Postgame Notes: Maryland 79, Wagner 57

Jan. 4, 2003

The Maryland basketball team (No. 22 AP, No. USA Today/ESPN) opened the game with a 20-4 run by the 14:11 mark and never looked back, defeating Wagner 79-57 and improving to 7-3 (1-0 ACC) on the year. The Terrapins have now defeated the Seahawks in both meetings of their series - once on Saturday, and once on Dec. 5, 1980.

Senior forward Ryan Randle went 10-of-10 from the field to total a career-high 21 points - and tie the all-time Terrapin record for single-game field goal percentage. His 1.000 shooting percentage on the night tied Lonny Baxter's 10-for-10 performance vs. North Texas on Dec. 23, 1998.

Randle, the Terps' current steals leader, also finished with four thefts to bring his season total to 21.

With 12 assists in the game, senior All-America candidate Steve Blake totals 826 for his career. Blake passed former Michigan State standout Mateen Cleaves, who finished his career with 814 in 1999-00, and is now in 20th place on the all-time NCAA assists chart. Blake now totals 20 career games of double-digit assists, including the Duquesne (13, Nov. 30, 2002) and Wagner (12) games of 2002-03.

Blake also added one steal to bring his career total to (200), becoming the only Terp besides Johnny Rhodes (344, 1993-96), Juan Dixon (333, 1999-2002) and Laron Profit (252, 1996-99) to reach the 200-steal milestone.

Maryland freshmen Nik Caner-Medley and Travis Garrison started together for the third straight game, marking the first time that true freshmen had made three consecutive starts in a Maryland uniform since Feb. 22, 1996 - when Obinna Ekezie and Terrell Stokes made their third successive starting appearances (Wake Forest, Missouri, at NC State). Caner-Medley has started six games this season, and Garrison three.

Maryland coach Gary Williams logged the 488th win of his career, and is now just 12 wins from 500. He is the 21st-leading active coach in America in terms of victories, and is 92-2 against non-conference opponents at home since taking the Terps' reins in the 1989-90 season.

Currently ranked second in the ACC and in the NCAA's top 10 in field goal percentage defense, the Terrapins held Wagner to .324 shooting, marking the fifth time this season Maryland has held an opponent to under 33%. The Terps have outshot eight of their first 10 opponents in 2002-03.

Maryland led at halftime, 40-21, marking the largest halftime lead for the Terps in over a month. The Terrapins held a 50-19, 31-point, lead over Duquesne earlier in the season on Nov. 30, 2002.

The Terrapins made their first six free throws, and finished 11-for-15 from the charity stripe. It was their best mark from the free throw line since shooting .750 (15 of 20) vs. George Washington on Dec. 8.

Senior guard Drew Nicholas scored 11 of his 13 points in the first half. The Terps' scoring leader has finished in double-figures every game of the 2002-03 season.

In his second game in 2002-03 coming off the bench, senior forward Tahj Holden contributed 11 points and five rebounds. He has combined for (22) points and nine rebounds in his two games in a reserve role this season.

In his third career (and third consecutive) start, freshman forward Travis Garrison finished the game with seven points. He also posted a career-high nine rebounds, leading the Terps for the third time this season.

Freshman guard Chris McCray, playing in his eighth career game, contributed a career-high seven steals to go along with his eight points. His seven steals tied a freshman record for steals in a game originally set by Walt Williams at North Carolina in the 1988-89 season.

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