Jan. 2, 2003
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland point guard Steve Blake needs just three assists on Saturday to move among the top 20 assist-makers in NCAA history, and senior teammate Drew Nicholas gets his first start since being named last week's national player of the week by FOXSports.com, when the Terrapins host Wagner at 4 p.m. at Comcast Center. [Note the time change from its originally scheduled time of 1:00].
Maryland, 6-3 overall and 1-0 in the ACC following last week's 84-77 win over Georgia Tech, plays its fourth straight game at Comcast Center on Saturday against the Seahawks, who represented the Northeast Conference at last season's NIT.
The Terrapins continue their current homestand with a game against Hampton next Wednesday, Jan. 8 (8:00 p.m.), and close the six-game home stretch while resuming ACC action against Florida State next Saturday, Jan. 11 (1:30 p.m.).
While dismantling Georgia Tech last Sunday, Nicholas scored a career-high 29 points while pulling down a career-best seven rebounds. He was joined in the scoring column by Ryan Randle, who scored 20 points with six steals. Blake, meanwhile, dished eight assists as he moved to 21st on the NCAA's career assists chart, just two behind former Michigan State star Mateen Cleaves (216). Blake needs three assists to pass Cleaves and stamp his name inside the NCAA Top 20. He is 15 assists shy of moving into 19th.
Nicholas' 29 points against the Yellow Jackets was the second-highest scoring total by an ACC player this season, and helped keep the Terps atop the list of the ACC's best performances this season:
Most ACC Points
31 - Josh Howard, Wake Forest vs. Wisconsin
29 - Drew Nicholas, Maryland vs. Georgia Tech
Most ACC Rebounds
16 - Ryan Randle, Maryland vs. Indiana
Most ACC Assists
13 - Steve Blake, Maryland vs. Duquesne
13 - Chris Duhon, Duke vs. Ohio State
Most ACC Steals
6 - Ryan Randle, Maryland vs. Georgia Tech
6 - Tahj Holden, Maryland vs. Duquesne
6 - Tim Pickett, Florida State vs. Savannah State
6 - Chris Duhon, Duke vs. Michigan
Most ACC Blocked Shots
5 - Ryan Randle, Maryland vs. Indiana
5 - Sean May, No. Carolina vs. Kansas
5 - Travis Watson, Virginia vs. Chaminade
5 - Jason Clark, Virginia vs. Rutgers
