Postgame Notes: No. 21 Maryland 89, Virginia Union 59

Nov. 11, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -

POSTGAME NOTES

The Maryland basketball team wrapped up the 2005-06 exhibition season with an 89-59 victory over NCAA Division II defending national champion Virginia Union of Richmond, Va., Friday night at Comcast Center. Statistics recorded in the game do not count officially, but the game serves as the final tune-up prior to the start of the regular season on Nov. 18.

Maryland averaged 89.5 ppg in two exhibition contests, while allowing just 59.0 ppg. The Terps forced an average of 25 turnovers per game and limited opponents to 34.5 percent from the field, including 5-of-33 (18.2 percent) from outside the arc.

Sophomore center James Gist had a strong first half with a team-best 10 points and seven rebounds. Gist (4-5 FT) also led a strong Maryland showing from the free-throw line in the first half as the Terps hit 15-of-20 from the line. Gist finished the game with a double-double tallying 17 points and 10 rebounds - his highest rebound total in a Maryland uniform.

Junior guard Mike Jones again once sparked the Terps off the bench. Jones scored nine second-half point, including two three-pointers as the Terps pulled away from the Panthers. Jones scored 1 of his game-high 19 points in the first half against St. .Francis-Zavier. Jones led the Terps with 16.0 ppg in two exhibition games, while playing just 20.5 minutes per contest.

Maryland allowed just one field goal in 11 shots in the first 7:00 minutes of the game. The Terps blocked three of the first five Virginia Union shots and drew ing two offensive fouls in the first 4:00 minutes. The Terps finished the half with one less blocked shot (7) than field goals allowed (8) and held Virginia Union to 24 percent shooting from the field. .

Maryland again showed a balanced scoring attack with four players in double figures led by Chris McCray's 18 points (608 FG), 13 of which came after halftime. McCray hit 4-of-5 three-pointers, including 3-of-3 in the second half. Maryland had five players score in double figures against St. Francis-Xavier.

The Terps shared the ball well in the second half, with 14 of their 19 assists after intermission (on 19 second-half FG). Maryland had three players with at least four assists, including a game-high six from Sterling Ledbetter, all in the second half. D.J. Strawberry added five assists and McCray dished out four helpers.

After holding St. Francis-Xavier to just 26 second-half points in the first exhibition game, Maryland limited Virginia Union to just 27 points in the first half of tonight's game.

Chris McCray tossed in two 3-pointers, sandwiching a lay-up by Dave Neal, for an 8-0 run over the course of three minutes early in the second half to expand the Maryland lead to 55-35. The Panthers were never able to get within 15 points for the rest of the game.

Senior guard Darius Hargrove led the Panthers scoring attack with 20 points. The Terrapins held Hargrove to just 7-for- 20 shooting, including 2 of 11 from the 3-point line. Maryland held Virginia Union to 2-for-17 from the 3-point line overall, a week after holding St. Francis-Xavier to 3 of 16 from deep.

The Terrapins opened their 2004-05 exhibition schedule by beating the Bryant College Bulldogs 100-85. The Bulldogs capped last year by losing to Virginia Union, in the Division II National Championship game, 65-58.

Virginia Union and head coach Dave Robbins have elevated several players into the professional ranks, including former NBA all star Charles Oakley and defending NBA Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace.

The Terps ' two exhibition contests, as well as Maryland's three games at the Maui Invitational, will be played with a trio of experimental rules set forth by the NCAA: 1) Moving the 3-point line back 9 inches behind the current arc to create an experimental distance of 20 feet, 9 inches. 2.) Widening the free-throw lane by one foot on each side; and 3) Placing a restricted arc which is to be three feet from the center of the basket ring.

Postgame Notes: No. 21 Maryland 89, Virginia Union 59

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