Dec. 10, 2001

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland (No. 3 AP, No. 2 USA Today/ESPN) hosts Monmouth with hopes of extending its nation's longest non-conference home court win streak to 82 games. The Terps and Hawks tip off on Tuesday, Dec. 11 in a regionally televised game beginning at 8 p.m.

* It is just the second time that the schools have met on the basketball hardwood. Maryland downed Monmouth 74-70 almost 13 years ago to the day: Dec. 13, 1988. It is the first time that Gary Williams has ever coached against Monmouth, a school located just over an hour from his hometown of Collingswood, N.J.

* Maryland has maintained its No. 2 ranking in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll for a second straight week. The ranking matches Maryland's preseason ranking in the Associated Press poll, and matches the highest ranking in Terrapin history.

* Maryland is at least 7-1 after eight games under Gary Williams for the sixth time in his 13 seasons in College Park. A win over Monmouth would produce at least an 8-1 mark for just the fourth time during his tenure at Maryland.

* The second-winningest coach in Maryland history, Gary Williams can win his milestone 250th game on the Terrapin sidelines with a win over the Hawks on Tuesday. He is presently 249-140 in his 13th season as head coach of his alma mater. Since guiding the Terps to eight consecutive NCAA Tournaments beginning in 1993-94, Williams has won 87 percent of his games at Cole Field House - 103-16 in eight-plus seasons.

* Maryland got balanced scoring from four players in double figures and limited Detroit to 30.8 percent shooting to win their seventh straight game last Sunday, 79-54. Lonny Baxter and Juan Dixon each shot 6-of-10 from the floor and the Terps shot 53.6 percent overall. Tahj Holden scored 14 points to go with six blocked shots, and Byron Mouton came off the bench for a season-high 13 points. Baxter had 17 and Dixon had 12.

* The Terps raced to a 21-7 lead in the BB&T Classic championship win over Connecticut last Monday, and got 24 points and 10 rebounds from tournament MVP Lonny Baxter. Baxter scored Maryland's first seven points in an 11-0 run to start the game. He was joined in the scoring column by senior guard Juan Dixon who scored 16 while setting the tournament records for steals (six in each game and 12, total). Tahj Holden added a season-high 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting - he was 5-for-5 in the second half.

TERP STREAKS
* Maryland has won seven straight games overall - the sixth time that Gary Williams and the Terps have posted a streak of seven or better since he took over the program in 1989-90. It matches the fourth-longest during the Williams Era.

* The Terps own a seven-game home win streak dating to last season.

* Counting the final month of the 2001 season when the Terps played five NCAA Tournament games and won 10 of their last 12, Maryland has won 17 of its last 20 games. Its only losses have come to Duke and Arizona.

* Maryland owns the nation's longest non-conference homecourt win streak which spans 81 games. Wins over Monmouth and William & Mary (Dec. 27) will secure the streak for 12 consecutive years - the streak began on Dec. 30, 1989 against Alcorn State. The Terps' last non-league home defeat was on Dec. 12, 1989 vs. Coppin State.

* Maryland has played 120 consecutive home games at Cole Field House since suffering consecutive home defeats. The last time Maryland lost back-to-back home dates was during the 1992-93 season.

RECORDS AND RANKINGS
* Maryland is 7-1 after an ACC/Big Ten Challenge victory over Illinois, last weekend's BB&T victories over Princeton and Connecticut, and Sunday's 79-54 win over Detroit. The Terrapins finished their 2001 season with a 25-11 record and their first trip to the Final Four.

* Monmouth, who advanced to last year's NCAA Tournament as the champion of the Northeast Conference, is currently 4-3 after losing last Saturday at Princeton, 57-51. The Hawks were 21-10 last season.

* Maryland is No. 3 by the Associated Press and No. 2 in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll. Monmouth is unranked. Other Maryland opponents in this week's rankings (AP, USA Today/ESPN): Duke (1,1), Illinois (5, 6), Arizona (7, 8), Virginia (8, 7), Wake Forest (23, 222). Connecticut and Oklahoma each are receiving votes in both polls.

ON DECK
* The Terps are off for 10 days before playing at No. 22 Oklahoma on Dec. 21.

* Maryland hosts William & Mary on Dec. 27 and opens ACC play at NC State on Dec. 30. The game at NC State is the Terps' second of six Sunday night games on FOX Sports Net.