Postgame Notes: Maryland 89, Duquesne 39

Nov. 30, 2002

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With the 89-39 victory, Maryland (No. 11 AP/No. 11 USA Today/ESPN) posted its third win ever (in as many games) in Comcast Center. The Terps ran out to a 13-3 lead by the 16:45 mark in the first half and never allowed the Dukes to get closer than 10 points for the duration. Maryland boosted its all-time series lead against Duquesne to 8-0.

Maryland extended its nationally top-ranked non-conference home court win streak to 87 games. The 12-year streak began against Alcorn State on Dec. 30, 1989 at Cole Field House and now includes three wins by the Terps in Comcast Center.

In holding Duquesne to 39 points, The Citadel to 49 points on Wednesday and Miami (Ohio) to 49 in the season opener, Maryland has allowed just 137 points in its first three games of the season. It is Maryland's best start to a season in terms of scoring defense since allowing 131 points to Galludet (27), North Carolina (53) and Duke (51) to open the 1944-45 season. (Ironically, in the days of the slow-down offense, Maryland lost all three of those games en route to a 2-14 season).

The 50-point margin of victory was the Terps' 21st in program history of 50 or more points.

Overall, the Terrapins have won their last 21 home games, including a 15-0 victory streak in Cole Field House in 2001-02 and a 3-0 run to open their new $125 million arena.

With the win, the Terps have established a new winningest stretch ever. The Terps have won 27 of their last 29 games since Dec. 27, 2001, eclipsing the 26 of 28 span from Nov. 9, 2001 to March 8, 2002. Those games include part of last season's 13-game win streak that concluded in the ACC Tournament.

The Terrapins held a 50-19 halftime lead in their attempt to put the Dukes away early. It marked the most first-half points for the Terps since Maryland scored 52 first-half points against Siena in the First Round of the 2002 NCAA Tournament (March 15, 2002). Maryland has held its first three opponents of 2002-03 to 21 (Miami (Ohio)), 17 (The Citadel) and 19 points (Duquesne) in the first half, respectively.

Maryland held the Dukes to 15-of-51 shooting from the field on the night (29.4%) The Terps have held all three of their 2002-03 opponents to less than 33% shooting on the year. Also, the last time Maryland held opponents to less than 50 points in three consecutive games was during the 1953-54 season (Washington & Lee (W, 51-25 on Feb. 4), Virginia Tech (W, 54-41 on Feb. 5) and Washington & Lee (W, 76-43 on Feb. 11). Maryland was ranked No. 11 in the country following those three wins and it was the program's first national ranking in history.

The Terrapins forced 35 Dukes turnovers (66 in the last two games) and scored 42 points off turnovers, compared to the Dukes 12. For the season the Terrapins hold a 116-23 points off turnovers advantage over their opponents, and at one point had scored 64 straight points off turnovers without allowing an opponent one.

With 10 assists in the first half alone, senior All-America candidate Steve Blake finished with 13 to post his 19th career double-digit assist game. The Maryland school record for assists in a single game is 15, set by Terrell Stokes vs. Westen Carolina on Nov. 14, 1998. Blake, the nation's active career assists leader, now has (777) career assists, and needs only (four) to reach 781 and break into the all-time top 25.

Senior Drew Nicholas scored all 19 of his points in the first half to lead the Terps for the third straight contest, one game removed from scoring 17 first-half points en route to a career-high 28 points. He also contributed 2 assists and 2 steals.

Senior forward Ryan Randle continues to produce in his first season as a starter. He scored 16 points for his second career double-digit scoring day, with both performances coming in the Terps' first three games this season. He also contributed 3 rebounds and 2 blocks.

Senior Tahj Holden netted four points, two rebounds and contributed a career-best six steals. He tied his previous career-high of three steals in the first 4:35 of the first half.

Freshman guard Chris McCray posted his best offensive night as a Terp, scoring nine points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field. He also added two rebounds and two assists.

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