Terrapins Open ACC Schedule At NC State On Sunday
12/29/2001 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 29, 2001
Maryland vs. NC State Game Notes in PDF Format
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Maryland (No. 8 AP, No. 6 USA Today/ESPN) travels to NC State to open its 49th season of play in the Atlantic Coast Conference. It is the Terps' second of six appearances on FOX Sports Net's national Sunday game of the week. Tipoff against the Wolfpack is 6 p.m.
* Maryland opens the ACC having finished in the top half of the league in six straight seasons, and a finish of third or better in four consecutive years. The Terps were 10-6 in the ACC in 2001, finishing behind regular season co-champs Duke and North Carolina.
* A win in Raleigh on Sunday afternoon will mark the 100th ACC league victory for Maryland coach Gary Williams, a milestone shared by only nine other coaches: Dean Smith (364), Mike Krzyzewski (203), Frank McGuire (142), Bobby Cremins (134), Lefty Driesell (122), Terry Holland (111), Vic Bubas (106), Norm Sloan (103), Dave Odom (101).
* Gary Williams is 21-6 against NC State all-time, having never faced the Wolfpack at any of his previous coaching stops - American, Boston College or Ohio State. He is a perfect 12-0 against the Wolfpack at Cole Field House.
* In last season's game at the Entertainment and Sports Arena, Maryland outlasted the Wolfpack 75-61 despite an abbreviated appearance (11 minutes all in the first half) by starting guard Juan Dixon due to a bruised tailbone in practice the previous day. Dixon later matched a season-high with 30 points against the 'Pack at Cole Field House.
* The Terrapins have won four straight against the Wolfpack, last losing in Raleigh on Jan. 6, 2000, 68-66. The Terrapins have won eight of the last nine meetings, 14 of 16 and 19 of 22.
* Maryland has won 9 of 11 games this season, and 19 of its past 23 games dating to last year's Final Four campaign. After losing three straight ACC affairs at midseason, the Terps closed the ACC regular season a year ago with wins over Wake Forest, NC State, Duke and Virginia.
* In their last outing, the Terps opened with an 11-2 lead as William & Mary missed its first five shots and Maryland capitalized on early miscues, but the Tribe climbed to within 23-22 before Maryland took control. Maryland led 50-35 at the half, and emptied its bench in the second half while scoring a school-record 13 3-pointers and posting its highest scoring total of the season in a 103-75 win. Juan Dixon and Byron Mouton each shared scoring honors with 19 points against the Tribe, while Dixon dished a career-high nine assists and added four steals and three treys. Lonny Baxter recorded the 27th double-double of his career with 12 points and 10 boards - all 10 of which came in the first half. Drew Nicholas pitched in a season-high 14 points and Chris Wilcox added 11.
TERP STREAKS
* Maryland has won nine of its last ten games.
* The Terps own a nine-game home win streak dating to last season.
* Maryland enters the NC State game with four straight ACC regular season victories under its belt dating to 2000-01.
* 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 19 of its last 23 games. Its only losses have come to Duke, Arizona and Oklahoma.
* Maryland owns the nation's longest non-conference homecourt win streak which spans 83 games and over 12 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 122 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 9-2 after its 72-56 loss at Oklahoma and Thursday's 103-75 win over William & Mary.
* NC State is 10-2 overall this season, following its 67-66 last-second win at Houston. The Wolfpack have won five straight.
* Maryland is No. 8 by the Associated Press and No. 6 in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll. Other Maryland opponents in this week's rankings: Duke (1,1), Virginia (4, 4), Illinois (7, 7), Oklahoma (12, 14), Arizona (14, 16), Wake Forest (25, 25). Connecticut and NC State each are receiving votes in both polls.
ON DECK
* Maryland hosts Norfolk State in its final non-league tilt of the season, next Thursday at 8 p.m. in a game televised live on Comcast Sports Net. The Terps resume ACC action on Wednesday, Jan. 9 against North Carolina at Cole Field House (7:30 p.m., ESPN2).
