March 1, 2000

Box Score| Quotes

By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - Steve Blake scored nine of his career-high 17 points during a pivotal 12-0 second-half run as No. 17 Maryland pulled away from Florida State and recorded its ninth straight Atlantic Coast Conference victory, 85-70 Wednesday night.

Terence Morris had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Terrapins (22-7, 11-4), who clinched second place in the conference for a second straight season. The nine-game ACC run is the most by a Maryland team in a season and is two short of the school record.

Blake had 10 assists and has 187 for the season, breaking the school record for a freshman held by John Lucas (178 in 1973). Blake was 6-for-8 from the field and also grabbed four rebounds.

Damous Anderson scored 22 points for the Seminoles (11-15, 6-9), who have lost eight straight to Maryland and seven in a row at Cole Field House. Florida State cut a 10-point halftime deficit to 51-48 before Blake took over.

A foul shot by Juan Dixon and a 3-pointer by Blake put Maryland up by seven points. Lonny Baxter then hit a baseline jumper before Blake drilled successive jumpers from well beyond the arc to make it 63-48 with 9:53 remaining.

Florida State never got closer than 11 points the rest of the way.

Baxter had 21 points for the Terrapins, who went 15-1 at home this season.

Florida State led 27-24 with six minutes left in the first half before Morris had two 3-pointers and a layup in a 21-4 run that put Maryland ahead to stay. Dixon scored five points in the surge and Blake chipped in with two baskets.

Blake started his most productive game of the season on the bench. Seldom-used Matt Hahn, getting his first college start for Maryland on Senior Night, was scoreless before being removed after six minutes.

Hahn returned in the final minute and capped the night by scoring Maryland's last basket.