Men's Hoops Release
6/21/1999 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
December 5, 1998
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - No. 2 Maryland (7-0 overall, 0-0 ACC) opens Atlantic Coast Conference action as it plays host to Wake Forest. The Terps begin play this week ranked No. 2 in both the Associated Press (writers) and ESPN/USA Today (coaches) polls. Maryland has not been ranked as high as No. 2 since the AP poll of Jan. 20, 1976. Maryland enters its game against Wake Forest with a 7-0 record for the second time during the Gary Williams era and only the fifth time in school history. The ranking is also the highest achieved by Williams as a head coach.
TERPS ACHIEVE HIGHEST RANKING SINCE 1975-76 SEASON
Maryland is ranked No. 2 in this weeks poll by the Associated Press and No. 2 in the ESPN/USA Today poll. It marks the highest ranking by the Terps since Jan. 20, 1976 when the Terps were also ranked No. 2. The Terps were ranked No. 2 for eight consecutive weeks during the 1975-76 season, Dec. 2, 1975 through Jan. 20, 1976.
RANKINGS UNDER GARY WILLIAMS
Marylands highest ranking prior to this season under head coach Gary Williams was No. 5 during the week of Jan. 27, 1997. The Terps defeated then No. 2 Wake Forest, Penn and then No. 10 Duke to ascend to the lofty ranking in the AP poll. The Terps have been ranked in the AP top 10 for 18 weeks during the Williams era.
TERPS WIN PUERTO RICO SHOOTOUT
Maryland defeated American University of Puerto Rico (82-32), UCLA (70-54) and Pittsburgh (87-52) to claim the championship of the 1998 Puerto Rico Shootout. It marked the fourth tournament championship for a Gary Williams-coached Maryland team. Previously, the Terps won the 1989 Chaminade Christmas Classic, the 1990 ECAC Holiday Festival and the 1996 Franklin National Bank Classic. Marylands victory over No. 10/12 UCLA marked the Terps first win over a ranked team this season. In addition, the Terps average margin of victory in the three-game tournament (+33.7 points) established a tournament record.
PROFIT NAMED MVP, FRANCIS AND MORRIS ALL-TOURNAMENT
Senior forward Laron Profit was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1998 Puerto Rico Shootout while sophomore forward Terence Morris and junior guard Steve Francis were named to the all-tournament team. It marked the first time that Profit had been named as an MVP and the first time Morris and Francis had earned all-tournament honors.
1998-99 ACC STANDINGS
(as of Dec. 3, 1998)
ACC Overall
Teams W L PCT W L PCT
Florida State 1 0 1.00 3 1 .750
Maryland 0 0 .000 7 0 1.000
North Carolina 0 0 .000 7 0 1.000
Duke 0 0 .000 6 1 .857
Wake Forest 0 0 .000 6 1 .857
Clemson 0 0 .000 6 1 .857
NC State 0 0 .000 5 1 .833
Georgia Tech 0 0 .000 4 1 .800
Virginia 0 1 .000 4 3 .571
ASSOCIATED PRESS (Nov. 30, 1998)
1. Connecticut 4-0
2. Maryland 7-0
3. North Carolina 6-0
4. Duke 5-1
5. Stanford 4-1
6. Cincinnati 4-0
7. Kansas 4-0
8. Kentucky 5-1
9. Michigan State 4-1
10. Temple 4-1
11. Oklahoma State 4-0
12. Syracuse 5-0
13 Arizona 3-0
14. Purdue 6-1
15. Washington 4-0
16. Indiana 6-1
17. New Mexico 4-0
18. UCLA 2-2
19. Arkansas 5-1
20. Pittsburgh 6-1
21 Utah 3-2
22. Miami (Ohio) 4-0
23. Xavier 4-2
24. Clemson 5-1
25. St. Johns 3-2
ESPN/USA TODAY (Nov. 30, 1998)
1. Connecticut 734 (21)
2. Maryland 725 (8)
3. North Carolina 669 (1)
4. Duke 657
5. Stanford 595 (5)
6. Kansas 566
7. Cincinnati 559
8. Kentucky 508 (1)
9. Michigan State 471
10. Temple 469
11. Syracuse 434
12. Purdue 411
13. Arizona 379
14. Washington 348
15. Oklahoma State 334
16. Indiana 301
17. Arkansas 213
18. New Mexico 209
19. UCLA 183
20. Utah 159
21. Pittsburgh 124
22. Xavier 120
23. Miami (Ohio) 109
24. Clemson 98
25. St. Johns 78
Terps in the Associated Press
and ESPN/USA Today preseason polls
last six years:
AP ESPN/USA
1993-94 NR NR
1994-95 7 14
1995-96 15 19
1996-97 RV RV
1997-98 RV 23
1998-99 6 5
RV - received votes
TERPS DEFEAT PITTSBURGH, WIN TITLE
BAYAMON, P.R. - No. 5 Maryland defeated Pittsburgh, 87-52, Saturday night to claim the championship of the Puerto Rico Shootout. The Terps shot 62.7 percent from the field courtesy of a myriad of layups and transition baskets. Pittsburgh shot 23 percent from the field and committed 23 turnovers. Maryland went on a 20-0 run to take a 30-7 lead with 10:23 left in the first half. They were perfect in the run, making eight shots in as many possessions, while holding the Panthers 0-for-4 from the field with three turnovers. Senior forward Laron Profit had a 3-pointer and two three-point plays in the run, but the Terrapins weren't done as they extended the lead to 46-17 at halftime. Maryland's biggest lead was 87-41 with 2:18 left and Pittsburgh closed the game with an 11-0 run.
TERPS LOOKING TO EXTEND WINNING STREAK
Maryland has won 10 consecutive regular season games heading into Thursday nights game against Wake Forest. The Terps won their final three regular season games of the 1997-98 season and have won their first seven of the 1998-99 season.
HOT STARTS
Maryland is 7-0 for the second time under Gary Williams and for the fifth time in school history. Marylands 1996-97 team won its first 11 games before falling in the championship game of the Rainbow Classic. Maryland previously won its first seven games during the 1925-26, 1972-73, 1974-75, 1975-76, 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons.
LOOKING TO GO 8-0
Maryland was 8-0 en route to an 11-0 start under Gary Williams during the 1996-97 season. Maryland has won its first eight games in a season only four times in school history. The Terps won their first eight during the 1925-26 season, their first 10 during the 1972-73 season, their first 11 during the 1975-76 season and their first 11 during the 1996-97 season.
FROM THE FREE THROW LINE
Maryland has made more free throws (124) than its opponents have attempted (123).
ON THE OFFENSIVE END
Maryland is averaging 88.6 points in its first seven games of the season. The Terps are enjoying a +38.3 average margin of victory.
BEATING RANKED TEAMS
Maryland defeated a ranked team for the first time this season and for the seventh time in the last two seasons when it defeated then No. 10/12 UCLA in the second round of the Puerto Rico Shootout. The Terps 16-point margin of victory was their largest over a ranked team since defeating then No. 23 Temple, 83-66 (+17) on Feb. 28, 1998.
PROFIT NAMED TO ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Senior forward Laron Profit scored a season-high 23 points against Pittsburgh, averaged 13.3 points, 3.3 steals and 3.0 assists in earning Most Valuable Player honors at the 1998 Puerto Rico Shootout. In the championship game against Pittsburgh, Profit shot nine-of-12 (75.0 percent) from the field and was a perfect four-of-four (1.000 percent) from the free throw line.
PROFIT SHARING
Senior forward Laron Profit was credited with a season-high six assists against UCLA in the second round of the Puerto Rico Shootout. It marked the 14th time during his career that he had been credited with six or more assists in a single game.
PROFIT SHARING ON THE RISE
Senior Laron Profit is averaging 2.8 assists per game this season. His single game career-high of 3.25 assists per came game during the 1997-98 season.
Season Assists APG
1998-99 20 2.86
1997-98 104 3.25
1996-97 78 2.44
1995-96 32 1.19
234 2.38
MORRIS FROM THE FIELD
Sophomore forward Terence Morris has shot 75 percent from the field or better twice this season and 60 percent or better form the field five times in the first seven games of the year.
MORRIS IMPROVING IN ALL CATEGORIES
Sophomore Terence Morris is averaging a career-high and team-leading 16.9 points per game and a career-high and team-leading 7.1 rebounds per game. He has scored in double figures in six of Marylands seven games this season and has grabbed seven or more rebounds four times in the first seven games of the season.
Season 97-98 98-99 Improv. Points 7.4 16.9 +9.5 Rebounds 3.5 7.1 +3.6 Blocked Shots 0.9 1.7 +0.8 Minutes 16.0 24.7 +8.7
SAN JUAN DIXON
Redshirt freshman Juan Dixon tied his career-high with 14 points against AU Puerto Rico in the first round of the Puerto Rico Shootout. He has scored in double figures in a career-high four consecutive games and has reached double figure scoring in five of Marylands seven games this season. He has made at least one 3-point field goal in each of Marylands seven games this season.
DIXON FROM THE FREE THROW LINE
Redshirt freshman Juan Dixon was a perfect seven-of-seven from the free throw line during the Puerto Rico Shootout and enters this week having hit a career-high 12 consecutive free throws. He has not missed since the first half of Marylands game against Duquesne on Nov. 23.
Games No. Pct. 1-3 3 of 6 50.0 4-7 12 of 13 92.3
DIXON FROM THE 3-POINT LINE
Redshirt freshman Juan Dixon has made a team-leading 14 3-point shots in the first seven games of the season, an average of 2.0 per game.
FRANCIS FROM THE FIELD
Junior guard Steve Francis is shooting 59.7 percent from the field through the first seven games of the season. He has shot 50 percent or better from the field in six of seven games this season, 60 percent or better in three of seven games and shot a stellar 80 percent (eight-of-10) from the field in his inaugural Division I game against Western Carolina.
FRANCIS SCORES CAREER-HIGH
Junior guard Steve Francis scored his career-high of 19 points against Pittsburgh in the championship game of the 1998 Puerto Rico shootout. He has now scored in double figures in six of Marylands seven games this season and has totaled 17 points or more four times.
MARDESICH PLAYS WELL AGAINST PITT
Redshirt sophomore Mike Mardesich scored seven points and grabbed eight rebounds against Pittsburgh in the championship game of the 1998 Puerto Rico Shootout. He played in a season-high tying 18 minutes and grabbed a season-high six defensive rebounds. He averaged 4.3 rebounds per game during the Puerto Rico Shootout.
EKEZIE ON THE BLOCKS
Senior center Obinna Ekezie, a preseason honorable mention All-America selection by the Associated Press, has 100 career blocked shots. He is only the fifth player in school history to record 100 or more blocks during his career.
Rk. Player, Years No. 1. Derrick Lewis, 1985-88 339 2, Cedric Lewis, 1987-90 239 3. Joe Smith, 1994-95 190 4. Larry Gibson, 1976-79 182 5. Obinna Ekezie, 1996-Pr. 100
EKEZIE, STOKES PLAY IN GAME NO. 100
Senior forward Obinna Ekezie and senior guard Terrell Stokes played in their 100th career games against UCLA on Nov. 27.
PROFIT TO PLAY IN CAREER GAME NO. 100
Senior forward Laron Profit has played in 98 career games and will play in his 100th career game against Stanford on Sunday.
STOKES ONE OF ONLY FIVE IN SCHOOL HISTORY
Senior guard Terrell Stokes, an All-ACC candidate, is one of only five players in school history to have been credited with at least 400 assists and at least 125 steals.
Player, Year Assists Steals Kevin McLinton, 1990-93 469 136 Dutch Morley, 1979-82 460 170 Johnny Rhodes, 1993-96 437 344 Walt Williams, 1989-92 410 175 Terrell Stokes, 1996-Pr. 428 141
TERRELL STOKES IS...
...The team leader in steals with 18;
...The team leader in assists with 51;
...The team leader in assist to turnover ratio with a mark of 3.92:1
STOKES MOVING UP IN A HURRY
Senior guard Terrell Stokes is averaging 7.3 assists per game through the first seven games of the season. He recorded a career-high and school record 15 assists against Western Carolina in the season opener on Nov. 14. He has 428 career assists and is only the ninth player in school history with 400 or more career assists.
MARYLAND RECORD BOOK - CAREER ASSISTS
Rank Player, Years No. 1. Keith Gatlin, 1983-88 649 6. Johnny Rhodes, 1993-96 437 7. Brad Davis, 1974-77 431 8. Terrell Stokes, 1996-Pres. 428
PROFIT PASSES 200
Senior Laron Profit has 201 career steals during his 98-game career for a 2.05 steals per-game average. He is now in second place all-time in the Maryland record book and is one of only 19 players in school history to have 200 or more career steals. He surpassed former Terp All-American and current Chicago Bull Keith Booth with a five-steal performance against American University of Puerto Rico. Profit now trails only Johnny Rhodes, the all-time ACC leader with 344 steals.
PROFIT ON THE ACC CAREER LIST
Senior Laron Profit, who has 201 career steals, is only the 19th player in the history of the ACC to have 200 or more career steals. He currently stands 19th all-time in ACC history and trails Bobby Hurley of Duke by only one steal.
Rk. Player, School No. 1. Johnny Rhodes, Md. 344 17. S. Wojciechowski, Duke 203 18. Bobby Hurley, Duke 202 19. Laron Profit, Md. 201
UPCOMING MILESTONES
Laron Profit
Career Points
1,155 (current)
+ 7 (needs)
1,162
(To move into 24th place all-time at
Maryland passing Maurice Howard).
Laron Profit
Career Steals
201 (current)
+ 144 (needs)
345
(To move into 1st place all-time at
Maryland passing Johnny Rhodes).
Laron Profit
Career 3-Point Shots Made
82 (Current)
+3 (needs)
85
(To move into sixth place all-time at
Maryland passing Exree Hipp).
Obinna Ekezie
Career Blocks
100 (current)
+ 83 (needs)
183
(To move into fourth place all-time at
Maryland passing Larry Gibson).
Obinna Ekezie
Career Free Throws Attempted
435 (current)
+ 42 (needs)
477
(To move into ninth place all-time at Maryland passing Tony Massenburg).
Obinna Ekezie
Career Points
945 (current)
+ 55 (needs)
(To become the 34th player in school history to score 1,000 or more career points).
Obinna Ekezie
Career Rebounds
578 (current)
+ 5 (needs)
583
(To move into 21st place all-time
at Maryland passing Ernest Graham).
Terrell Stokes
Career Assists
428 (current)
+ 4 (needs)
432
(To move into seventh place all-time at Maryland passing Brad Davis).
PROBABLE STARTERS FOR MARYLAND....
F #3 Laron Profit (11.9 ppg, 3.7 spg; ranked second all-time at Maryland with 201 steals) F #44 Terence Morris (16.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg; Puerto Rico Shootout all-tournament team) C #54 Obinna Ekezie (11.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg; career-high tying 23 points vs. Hofstra, 11/20/98) G #12 Terrell Stokes (1.1 ppg, 7.3 apg; school record 15 assists vs. UMBC, 11/17/98) G #23 Steve Francis (15.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg; career-high 19 points vs. Pittsburgh)....AND TOP RESERVES
G #5 Juan Dixon (11.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg; team-leading 14 3-point shots made) F #33 Mike Mardesich (4.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg; career-high 12 points vs. W. Carolina, 11/14/98) G #15 Danny Miller (6.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg; 8 pts, game-high 3 steals vs. W. Carolina, 11/14/98) F #35 Lonny Baxter (4.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg; 8 pts, 4 rebs vs. Pittsburgh, 11/28/98)
MARYLAND VS. WAKE FOREST - A SERIES HISTORY
The Series: Wake Forest leads, 49-47
Last Maryland Win: Jan. 19, 1997; 54-51 (OT)
Last Wake Forest Win: Feb. 19, 1998; 83-79
Last Maryland Win at Cole Field House: Jan. 14, 1995; 76-66
Last Wake Forest Win at Cole Field House: Feb. 19, 1998; 83-79
Maryland vs. Wake Forest, Current Streak Wake Forest has won 3
Gary Williams vs. Wake Forest: 7-11
TERPS VS. WAKE FOREST - THE LAST FOUR GAMES
Feb. 19, 1998 Jan. 17, 1998 Feb. 1, 1997 Jan. 19, 1997 Wake Forest 83 at Wake Forest 72 Wake Forest 74 Maryland 54 at Maryland 79 Maryland 60 at Maryland 69 at Wake Forest 51
TONIGHTS REFEREES
Tonights referee is Frank Scagliotta and the umpires are Karl Hess and Ted Valentine.
TERPS BY THE NUMBERS IN 1998-99
Overall Record: 7-0
When Outrebound Opponent: 7-0
ACC Record: 0-0 When
Outrebounded by Opp: 0-0
Home Record: 4-0
When Rebounds are Equal: 0-0
Road Record: 1-0
When Leading at Halftime: 7-0
Neutral Site Record: 2-0
When Trailing at Halftime: 0-0
Day Games: 2-0
When Tied at Halftime: 0-0
Night Games: 5-0
When Shoot Better from Field: 7-0
In Home ACC Games: 0-0
When Shoot Worse from Field: 0-0
In Road ACC Games: 0-0
Versus a Ranked Opponent: 1-0
When Score At Least 80 Points: 6-0
When Score 100+ Points: 1-0
When Score Under 80 Points: 1-0
PROFIT IS SECOND RUNNER-UP IN PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR BALLOTING
Senior Laron Profit finished third in the balloting for preseason ACC Player of the Year by the media at Operation Basketball. Profit, who was an honorable mention All-America selection by the Associated Press as a junior last season, finished behind Dukes Elton Brand and Trajan Langdon in the voting.
WILLIAMS SIGNS NEW CONTRACT
University of Maryland men's basketball coach Gary Williams signed a new contract which will enhance the financial terms and the length of his previous agreement, athletic director Deborah A. Yow announced Nov. 30. The term of the new contract extends to May, 2005, with a three-year rollover provision which would carry the term to May, 2008. Williams last signed a seven-year contract in November of 1994. That contract included a rollover provision for three years which extended the seven-year term to 10 years, to May, 2004. "Coach Williams has led our basketball program back to national prominence. This has resulted in extensive, positive national exposure for the basketball program and the university," said Yow. "Clearly, he has earned this new contract and its corresponding financial enhancements."
TERPS BY THE NUMBERS
.288
Maryland limited its three opponents to .288 shooting from the field (49-170) during the Puerto Rico Shootout.
.544
Maryland shot .544 percent from the field (92-169) during its three games in the Puerto Rico Shootout.
1
Head coach Gary Williams has used one starting lineup during the regular season -- Laron Profit (F), Terence Morris (F), Obinna Ekezie (C), Terrell Stokes (G) and Steve Francis (G).
2
Maryland has shot better than 60 percent from the field twice this season -- against Western Carolina (.667) and Pittsburgh (.627).
4
Maryland has played in the championship game of each of its last four holiday tournaments which have been played off of the U.S. mainland -- the 1989 Chaminade Christmas Classic, the 1994 Maui Invitational, the 1996 Rainbow Classic and the 1998 Puerto Rico Shootout. Maryland won tournament championships at Chaminade and Puerto Rico.
9
Nine different players are averaging in double figure minutes through the first seven games of the season.
14
14 of Juan Dixons 24 made field goals have been 3-point shots (.583).
17
Senior forward Laron Profit scored as many points during the first half of Marylands victory over Pittsburgh (17) as the Panthers did as a team (17).
20
Senior guard Terrell Stokes has more steals (20) than he does fouls (nine) or turnovers (13).
28.1
Junior guard Steve Francis is averaging a team-leading 28.1 minutes played per game.
124
Maryland has made 124 free throws in its first seven games this season. Marylands opponents have attempted 123 in the first seven games.
HEAD COACH GARY WILLIAMS
One of the top coaches in the nation, Gary Williams has led Maryland back to the top of the college basketball world in his nine seasons with the Terrapins. During his 21 years as a head coach, Williams has a record of 378-240 (.612). He was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year by ACC Athlete Magazine in 1998 after guiding the Terps to a 21-11 record and a third-place conference finish. The Terps have finished in the upper echelon in the ACC in each of the last five years. Maryland is one of only two teams in the ACC to have competed in the NCAA Tournament in each of the last five years.
TERPS WITH NATIONS BEST STREAK
Maryland has won 62 consecutive non-conference home games. The Terps streak of 62 consecutive is the longest current streak in the nation. Maryland began its winning streak on Dec. 30, 1989 when it defeated Alcorn State, 110-91, in Cole. It has not lost a non-conference home game since Dec. 12, 1989 when the Terps dropped a 70-63 decision to Coppin State in Gary Williams seventh game as head coach at Maryland.
NON-CONFERENCE HOME WINNING STREAKS
Rk. Team No. Began 1. MARYLAND 62 Dec. 30, 1989 2. North Carolina 52 Feb. 21, 1989
STOKES ESTABLISHES SCHOOL RECORD
Senior guard Terrell Stokes recorded a career-high and school-record 15 assists against Western Carolina on Nov. 14. He surpassed his own record of 14 which he established against Towson State on Nov. 20, 1996. Stokes is now ranked first, second and tied for third in the Maryland record book for assists in a single game.
WINNING WAYS
Maryland begins the 1998-99 season looking for its sixth consecutive winning season and eighth during the Gary Williams era at the University of Maryland. Maryland has not enjoyed six consecutive winning seasons since the 1980-81 through 1985-86 seasons.
PROFIT A PRESEASON FIRST TEAM SELECTION
Senior Laron Profit (Charleston, S.C) was selected as a member of the All-ACC preseason first team by the media at Operation Basketball. Profit, a two-time third team All-ACC selection, is Marylands leading returning scorer heading into the 1998-99 season. He has scored 1,106 career points to rank 26th all-time at Maryland. In addition, he led the ACC with a 2.7 steals per game average last season and ranks third all-time in school history with 191 career steals. Senior center Obinna Ekezie, senior guard Terrell Stokes and junior guard Steve Francis were all second team all-conference selections.
Two minutes, 53 seconds. Eight possessions, as many baskets. Twenty straight points. Maryland introduced itself to upstart Pittsburgh and a national television audience last night with a rousing run that left the Panthers running for cover and a tiny crowd at tiny Eugenio Guerra Sports Complex howling in appreciation. The wreckage in the championship game of the Puerto Rico Shootout was 87-52, in favor of Hurricane Terp.
Paul McMullen
The Baltimore Sun
Nov. 29, 1998
I think this team is creating its own identity. We play this way and people like the way we play. I know I like coaching this way. In coaching, you can coach whatever way you want. This is the way I like to coach. We have played like this before but maybe we didnt have all of the parts to do it. Its great to see this type of development from this team.
Gary Williams
University of Maryland
Maryland was as good a team as Ive ever coached against. I knew they were good, but I had no idea they were that good. Theyre really well coached. They do things the average person wouldnt see. They do the little things. They play clean, they play hard and they play with intensity. They do all the things that need to be done.
Phil Hopkins
Western Carolina
In my five years at Villanova and two at UNLV, thats (Maryland) one of the best teams Ive seen. Looking back, I wish we didnt play them in our first game, not that it would have been a different outcome later. Maryland can get you in a lot of ways.
Jay Wright
Hofstra University
Wheres Marylands weakness? I dont care who theyve played, they do it all. Gary Williams manages to get them to play hard. Whos better in the ACC?
Unnamed NBA Scout
at the Puerto Rico Shootout
Maryland may be the best team in the nation.
Dick Vitale
ESPN
Dec. 2, 1998
I think that needs to be said -- how well Terrell Stokes played. Vonteego Cummings was a guy a lot of pro scouts were here looking at tonight. Terrell just made up his mind, he was going to play great defense...Hes just totally unselfish. Hes got a great feel for what we do. He wants to be a coach, and he looks at the court like that now.
Gary Williams
University of Maryland
Terrell Stokes is Gary Williams on the floor with a jersey.
Steve Francis
University of Maryland
On Nicholas: A 6-3 shooting guard who is listed among the nations top 100 recruits. He averaged 17 points per game as a junior at Long Island Lutheran High, helping his school reach the championship game of the state tournament last season. Nicholas performed well during the Charlie Weber Invitational Tournament in College Park in September, playing as a member of the Long Island Panthers. Nicholas scored 39 points in the recently played Lupus Basketball Charity Classic. He was named the most valuable player on the Nassau County team.
TERPS DEFEAT AUSSIE ALL-STARS, 90-59
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Laron Profit led a balanced attack with 17 points and Maryland limited the Aussie All-Stars to 31 percent first-half shooting in a 90-59 victory Wednesday night. The Terrapins never trailed in the first of their two exhibition games before the Nov. 14 opener against Western Carolina. Obinna Ekezie had 15 points and 14 rebounds for the Terrapins while Terence Morris scored 16 and Steve Francis, a highly touted junior college transfer, contributed nine points and four assists. Seven players scored for Maryland in the first half and four finished in double figures. Dominick Young led the Aussies with 23 points. Up 35-28 with 90 seconds left in the half, Maryland pulled away when Francis scored five straight points and Juan Dixon added four to make it 44-28 at halftime. The Australian team had more turnovers than baskets in the first half (14-9).
