January 27, 1999

Box Score

By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - Florida State decided to play its usual brand of run-and-gun basketball against No. 4 Maryland.

Big mistake.

The Terrapins took full advantage of Florida State's invitation to run Wednesday night, shooting 62 percent and getting 22 points from Obinna Ekezie in a 107-87 victory.

Maryland (19-2, 7-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) had five players score in double figures and topped the 100-point barrier in an ACC game for the first time since 1994.

If the Terrapins have a flaw, it's in their ability to score consistently out of the halfcourt offense. Thanks to the Seminoles' strategy, Maryland didn't much have to bother much with passing the ball around to get an open shot.

"We weren't going to slow down. We just wanted to play our game, which is to run," Florida State forward Damous Anderson said.

Maryland did it better, streaking downcourt for numerous layups throughout the game. It was only the fourth time in the 1990s that Maryland surpassed 100 points in an ACC game.

"If we didn't have our bench we couldn't have done that. We had some pretty tired guys after the overtime game against Clemson," coach Gary Williams said, referring to the Terrapins' victory Sunday. "As a coach, you have to realize you have to play those guys because you're going to need them."

The reserves contributed 34 points, including 10 apiece by Juan Dixon and Mike Mardesich.

"We wanted to go inside, and that can cause a lot of fouls," Williams said. "Also, with Florida State's speed, we needed to make sure we had fresh legs in the game."

Steve Francis scored 21 points, Terence Morris had 16 and Terrell Stokes recorded eight assists to pass John Lucas and move into second place on the school career list with 515.

Ron Hale had 22 points and Terrell Baker 18 for Florida State (11-8, 5-3). The Seminoles have lost six straight road games against Maryland.

"We tried to make a run and push at them," Seminoles coach Steve Robinson said. "But we weren't big enough and strong enough to defend them."

Florida State decided from the outset to make the game a track meet, and the strategy worked for about 16 minutes. That's when Maryland got its transition game in full working order, and the Seminoles simply couldn't keep up.

It was 38-35 before Francis made four straight free throws and Mardesich added a layup for a nine-point cushion. After Delvon Arrington hit a 3-pointer, Morris scored on an alley-oop, Dixon sank two foul shots and Morris made a dunk for a 50-38 lead.

Maryland opened the second half with a 9-1 spree to make it 59-41. Ekezie, limited to nine minutes in the first half after hurting his wrist, scored four points in the run and Stokes hit a 3-pointer.

Minutes later, Stokes passed Lucas by feeding Laron Profit on a 3-pointer that made it 64-47.

The margin swelled to 20 points with 5:17 remaining.

"We felt like we could run with them," Hale said. "The key was to handle their press. We did it at times, but they got a lot of turnovers and some easy baskets."

The Seminoles committed 23 turnovers.