Postgame Notes: Florida 69, Maryland 64

Dec. 14, 2002

Maryland (No. 18 AP/No. 16 USA Today/ESPN) fell for the first time in four games at Comcast Center, 69-64, to the No. 14/17 Florida Gators. In a wild contest that featured 13 lead changes, the Gators outlasted the Terps in the two schools' only meeting since 1932.

Maryland's 87-game non-conference home court win streak, which was currently longest in the nation, ended with today's loss. The 12-year streak began against Alcorn State on Dec. 30, 1989 at Cole Field House and included three wins by the Terps in Comcast Center. With their match-up against Florida, the Terps met the fourth ranked opponent (in as many years) during the streak. The Terps had handed No. 23 Kentucky (1999-00), No. 16 Oklahoma (2000-01), and No. 2 Illinois (2001-02) losses during their remarkable run.

Overall, the Terrapins had won their last 21 home games, which included a 15-0 victory streak in Cole Field House in 2001-02 and a 3-0 run to open their new $125 million arena. It stood as the eighth-longest in the nation. The Terps' overall best home win streak was a 24-game mark set between the 1979-80 (16) and 1980-81 (8) seasons.

The Terps now have a nine-day break for exams before their next game. The Terrapins are next in action on Mon., Dec. 23, vs. UMBC at 8 p.m.

Senior forward Ryan Randle posted his second career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Randle was 9-of-17 from the floor to score in double-figures for the fourth time in the Terps' seven games as a starter. As one of the Terps' key reserves in 2001-02, the then junior transfer reached double-digit scoring only once.

In the last four games, Randle averaged 12.5 points and 9.8 rebounds.

Senior Drew Nicholas has scored in double-figures in all seven of Maryland's games, finishing Saturday's contest with 13 points on 5 of 15 shooting. He averages 20 points in the last two games.

With six assists in the game, senior All-America candidate Steve Blake is just three assists away from becoming the 23rd -player in NCAA history to reach 800 for a career. Blake now totals 797 helpers, and he moved into 23rd all-time on the NCAA assist chart. He passed Siena's Marc Brown, who finished with 796 in his career.

Senior Tahj Holden netted seven points on 3 of 4 shooting. Holden has averaged 10.6 points in the last three games, compared to 4.0 points per game in the first four of the Terps' contests this season.

Freshman guard John Gilchrist played a career-high 22 minutes and contributed 10 points, four assists and four rebounds.

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