Jan. 30, 2005

Recap |  Box Score |  Quotes

• The Maryland basketball team seized an early lead and never let go, capturing a key 79-71 ACC victory over No. 22/21 Georgia Tech Sunday night at Comcast Center to improve its overall mark to 13-5 and 4-3 in conference play. It was the Terps' second consecutive victory over a ranked opponent, following Maryland's road win over previously-undefeated Duke on Wednesday.

• Maryland snapped a three-game losing streak against the Jackets and have now won 13 of the last 18 overall and 10 of 11 in College Park. However, Georgia Tech still maintains a 33-29 all-time series advantage. Maryland has won 10 of 11 games this season in the friendly confines of the Comcast Center.

• Nik Caner-Medley led the Terps in scoring for the sixth straight game, racking up 19 points to lead four Terrapins in double figures. It was the junior small-forward's 11th consecutive game in double figures (the fifth-longest active streak among ACC players) and 16th this season in 18 games. In the last six games, Caner-Medley has averaged 23.5 points per game.

• Three other Terrapins joined Caner-Medley in double figures: Chris McCray poured in 16 points (including a perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line), John Gilchrist contributed 15 points(his fourth straight double-digit performance) to go along with seven assists and five rebounds and played all 40 minutes, while Ekene Ibekwe supplied 14 points (5-of-7 from the field) and nine rebounds off the bench. In the past two games, Ibekwe has averaged 14.5 points and nine rebounds in a reserve role. Maryland's top four scorers accounted for 81 percent of the Terps' offensive output.

• Maryland's defense held the Jackets' triple-threat of Jarrett Jack, Will Bynum and Isma'il Muhammed to just 10-of-43 shooting from the field, a 23 percent clip. For the game, Tech shot just 35 percent from the floor and were held to just 20 percent shooting from behind the line. In the last two games, Maryland has held its opponents to just 34.3 percent shooting from the field.

• Led by Travis Garrison's career-high 15 rebounds (previously 11, vs. Liberty, 12/28/04), Maryland dominated the glass, outrebounding the Jackets 48-39, their largest rebounding advantage in conference play to date. It was the most rebounds in a game by a Terp since Ryan Randle corralled 15 for the Terps against Xavier in the 2003 NCAA Tournament. The Terrapins lead the league in team rebounding, averaging 42.8 rebounds per game. Ibekwe added four of Maryland's six blocks, giving the Terps 117 rejections for the season, among the national leaders in that category.

• Energized by thrilling conference wins in their previous games last week, both teams set a fast pace in the opening minutes. Caner-Medley drained two three-pointers in the first three minutes of the contest, but the Jackets countered with six transition points as Maryland held a 10-8 edge at the first media timeout.

• Tech's big and small men - center Luke Schenscher and point guard Will Bynum - collected their second fouls early on and Caner-Medley drilled his third three-pointer as part of an 8-2 Maryland spurt that was capped by John Gilchrist's jumper off the glass while being fouled. The ensuing free throw gave the Terps a 21-14 cushion.

• Reserve guard Sterling Ledbetter displayed toughness in the low post, pulling down a pair of rebounds and driving the lane for a lay-in with six minutes remaining and Gilchrist's ensuing two free throws gave Maryland its largest lead at 35-25. Tech responded, as guard Mario West scored five in a row to cut the gap in half. The Terps answered by scoring nine of the final 13 points in the half to reclaim its double-digit lead at 44-34 entering the locker room.

• Caner-Medley paced the Terps with 13 first-half points and Gilchrist poured in 10 points, while dishing out 5 helpers. The Terrapins dominated the glass, outrebounding Tech 27-15. Garrison ripped down eight rebounds and Ibekwe had five boards to go along with nine points. Maryland's starting guard tandem of Gilchrist and McCray were perfect in 7 trips to the line. 26 of the Jackets' 34 points came in the post and Maryland held their opponents to just 1-of-9 shooting from behind the arc. Maryland held the Yellow Jackets' two leading scorers - Jarrett Jack and Will Bynum - to just five first half points.

• The Ramblin' Wreck hung tough early in the second half, thanks in large part to Schenscher who had five short buckets in the opening eight minutes. Garrison swished a three-pointer to maintain Maryland's 10-point lead at 53-43 four minutes into the frame. Gilchrist hit a tough jumper from the block to give Maryland a 63-52 edge, but The Jackets ran off eight straight points to close the gap to three with 7:46 remaining.

• Defense and physical play characterized action down the stretch, as Georgia Tech was held scoreless for nearly six minutes and the Terps increased their lead to 68-60 at the final media timeout. Tech converted only three field goals in the final 7:46 of the game. McCray scored six points in the final two minutes to shut the door on the Yellow Jackets.