November 26, 1998

No. 5 Maryland 82, American, PR 52

Box Score

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Reserves Juan Dixon and Danny Miller scored 14 points each Thursday and No. 5 Maryland beat undermanned American University of Puerto Rico 82-52 in the opening round of the Puerto Rico Shootout.

The host school lost 10 players from its roster after they weren't approved by the NCAA Clearinghouse when the school made the move from Division III to II.

As expected, the Terrapins (5-0) took control right away by scoring the first 15 points of the game and extended their average margin of victory this season to 41.8 points. They advance to Friday's semifinals against the winner of the game between No. 10 UCLA and San Francisco.

The Pirates, who were playing their season opener, beat Arkansas and Alabama in last year's tournament but with a team of four reserves from last season and three walk-ons, they trailed Maryland 49-17 at halftime.

Laron Profit had 13 points for Maryland, while Terence Morris added 12.

Kevin Nesbitt had 13 points and nine rebounds for American, which was outrebounded 50-30.

Maryland, which played 13 players and had all but two score, shot 57 percent from the field and finished with 21 steals.

By Jim O'connell
AP Basketball Writer