Nov. 18, 2003

Box Score| Quotes| Notes

By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Gary Williams couldn't have asked for a better lesson for his young basketball team.

Maryland shot poorly, blew an 18-point lead and allowed 51 points in the second half Tuesday night in an 81-72 loss to the Roanoke Dazzle.

On the positive side, it was only an exhibition game.

"That was good for us in that it really pointed out some things that we lack right now," Williams said. "You get to a point where you think you're doing things well, and then you get into a game like tonight and you realize you're not doing it as good as you thought."

Curtis Staples scored 14 of his 20 points in the second half to lead Roanoke past the Terrapins, who begin the regular season Saturday against American University.

"It's better to learn from a game like this than to have it hurt us when it counts," Maryland forward Nik Caner-Medley said.

Jamar Smith scored 19 and John Gilchrist had 16 for Maryland, which finished the preseason 1-1.

"This team is a work in progress," Williams said. "We're trying to get things done that were kind of automatic the last couple of years. Hopefully it clicks."

Roanoke, one of six teams in the National Basketball Development League, trailed 35-17 in the first half and by 10 points early in the second half before coming back behind Staples, a former star at Virginia.

Staples hit four 3-pointers in a 21-10 run that gave Roanoke its first lead, 58-57, with 11:05 remaining. The margin swelled to six points before a jumper by Travis Garrison got Maryland to 67-63 with 6:03 left.

Roanoke then scored nine straight points, the last six by Mikki Moore, to go up 76-63.

Maryland shot 36 percent, often opting to take jumpers than work the ball in the paint.

John Gilchrist, who finished with 16 points, fights for a loose ball during the second half Tuesday night.

"We have to be able to get the ball inside, then we have to be able to score inside," Williams said. "We've always been good at that. Tonight we thought we could win with jump shots."

Marque Perry scored 11 for Roanoke, which opens its season Saturday night at Fayetteville.

Senior Jamar Smith was replaced in the starting lineup by 7-foot-1 freshman Will Bowers, who hit a 3-pointer from the corner to put the Terrapins up 6-0. Over the first 5˝ minutes, the Dazzle went 0-for-6 with seven turnovers and trailed 10-0.

"I thought it was going to be a long night," Roanoke coach Kent Davison said.

It was 22-10 before Gilchrist scored eight points in a 13-7 run that gave Maryland its biggest lead.

The Dazzle then began their comeback and quieted the crowd of 17,444 by rattling off 10 straight points.

"Now we know what it takes to play a good team," Williams said. "Hopefully, this will help us get ready."