Dec. 23, 2004

Recap |  Box Score |  Quotes

• The Maryland basketball team (No. 24 AP/No. 21 USA Today/ESPN) pulled away from a feisty American University squad with a strong second half performance and scored an 82-61 victory over the Eagles Thursday night in a pre-Christmas tilt at Comcast Center. Maryland has not lost to American since their first-ever meeting in the 1926-27 season and has won 12 straight in the rivalry.

• In nine meetings against American since becoming head coach of Maryland in 1989, Gary Williams has never lost to the school that he coached from 1978 to 1982. In the last three meetings, Maryland has defeated the Eagles by an average margin of more than 27 points.

• Under Williams, Maryland is now 105-2 against non-conference foes on their home floor. Tonight's win increases its current streak in those games to 15 in a row.

• John Gilchrist reached the 20-point plateau for the fourth straight game (23 vs. George Washington, 22 vs. UNC-Asheville, 21 vs. Florida State). His 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting led four Terps in double figures. 15 of his game-high 20 points came in the second half when Maryland was able to separate itself from the Eagles. Gilchrist also added five assists, a benchmark he has hit in all nine games this season.

• Nik Caner-Medley, Travis Garrison (5-of-7 FG) and Chris McCray also contributed double-digit scoring and although Ekene Ibekwe fell one point shy of that mark, his 13 rebounds (six offensive) are a career-high. Ibekwe also led the Terps with three steals, which ties a career-high. It was also the fourth straight game in which four Maryland starters scored in double figures

• McCray continues to flourish in the Terrapin offense, having scored in double digits in eight of Maryland's first nine games, for an average of 14 points per game. Freshman phenom James Gist continues to build on his early-season success with a seven-rebound performance. The Terps outrebounded the smaller Eagles 44-28, including 19-6 on the offensive glass.

• American set a frenetic pace early on with quick passes and a transition game that produced open shots. The Eagles sunk seven of their first nine field goals, including 4-of-6 from long distance, to take an 18-13 advantage at the first media timeout. Garrison scored the Terps' first seven points.

• Both teams would go on quick spurts over the next several minutes, trying to establish a comfortable lead. Maryland scored nine straight points and the Eagles missed their four straight field goals after their opening run to take a 22-18 lead. But American bounced right back, netting the next 10 points while the Terps went cold to regain a 28-22 advantage.

• Terps' big man Will Bowers keyed a Maryland run later in the first half. Facing a double team in the low post, he kicked a pass to McCray in the corner for an open three-point basket and then deflected an Eagle entry pass, collected the loose ball, fed a streaking McCray who found Caner-Medley underneath for a reverse lay-in that evened the contest at 32.

• Maryland forged a slim 36-34 halftime edge when Gilchrist distributed an entry pass to an open McCray underneath for an uncontested lay-in with 1:13 remaining. Garrison and Caner-Medley each had nine first-half points to lead the hosts, while McCray had seven points. Gist and Ibekwe had a strong half on the glass, as each pulled down five boards, helping Maryland to a 23-14 rebounding advantage (11-2 on the offensive end). Jason Thomas led the Eagles with nine first-half points on 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc, while Patrick Okpwae rejected four Terrapins shots.

• American stayed within striking distance early in the second frame, before the Terrapins finally got some breathing room and pulled away midway through the second half with a 16-0 run that opened up a 66-48 lead with six minutes to play. During the surge, Gist threw down a Gilchrist lob, Ibekwe tipped in a missed three-point attempt, D.J. Strawberry drilled a three-pointer, Gilchrist streaked down the court for a fast break lay-in and Garrison hit two from the charity stripe to cap the spurt. Maryland would lead by as many as 22 points

• Freshman Sterling Ledbetter saw his first action of the season, and sunk one of two free throws in the final minutes for his first collegiate points.