Dec. 14, 2003

Box Score| Quotes| Notes

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - John Gilchrist scored a career-high 24 points to lead five players in double figures as Maryland routed Pepperdine 96-72 Sunday.

D.J. Strawberry added a career-high 17 points as Maryland followed up on their Wednesday night upset of top-ranked Florida with their highest point total of the season.

Jamar Smith registered his seventh double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Terrapins, who improved to 6-2 entering a nine-day layoff for exams.

Chris McCray contributed 11 points and Nik Caner-Medley netted 10 for Maryland. Glen McGowan poured in a career-high 36 points for Pepperdine (3-5), which had a two-game winning streak snapped.

Maryland broke the game open with an 11-2 run to start the second half. Gilchrist scored eight points during the blitz, which put the Terps ahead 55-34 just 2:07 into the half.

Pepperdine never got closer than 13 points after that despite a spectacular effort from McGowan, who hit 12 of 15 free throws en route to setting the individual scoring record at the 2-year-old Comcast Center.

Gilchrist, a sophomore point guard, drained 3 of 4 3-pointers and scored with drives to the basket. He was coming off an 18-point effort against Florida that equaled his previous career-high.

Strawberry, a freshman combination guard, made a pair of 3-pointers despite coming in 0-for-5 from beyond the arc. Maryland was a season-best 10-for-16 from 3-point range.

Terrance Johnson (11 points) was the only other player in double figures for Pepperdine, which shot 38 percent from the floor.

Maryland used a 9-0 run to take control of a seesaw affair that featured three ties in the opening eight minutes. Caner-Medley started things with a 3-pointer while Gilchrist had back-to-back baskets as the Terrapins moved ahead 23-16 with 9:33 remaining before intermission.

Gilchrist and Strawberry combined for 21 points as Maryland took a 44-32 halftime lead. McGowan scored 15 points to keep Pepperdine within striking distance.