Nov. 11, 2005

Box Score | Post Game Notes | Quotes

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) _ Maryland cranked up the defense and cut down on the turnovers in the second half against Virginia Union, turning a surprisingly close game into a feel-good preseason victory.

James Gist had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Chris McCray scored 18 to carry No. 24 Maryland past Virginia Union 89-59 Friday night.

The Terrapins committed 16 turnovers in the first half, missed 13 of 23 field-goal attempts and led by only nine points at the break.

"All we talked about at halftime was being patient," Maryland coach Gary Williams said. "We had 16 turnovers in the first half, and a lot of them came on first and second passes. We started to pass the ball well in the second half; we got easier shots and everything just relaxed."

Maryland shot 63 percent in the second half, committed only four turnovers and limited the Panthers to 10-for-27 shooting in burying the defending NCAA Division II champions.

The Terrapins, who got 13 points from Mike Jones and 12 from Nik Caner-Medley, open their season next Friday against Fairleigh Dickinson. Maryland went 2-0 in exhibition play.

"I think we're getting a certain defensive mentality. When you go up against tough teams, you have no chance to win unless you have that defensive mentality," Williams said. "I thought I saw that in the second half."

Darius Hargrove scored 20 points for Virginia Union, which was playing its second exhibition game in two nights. The Panthers tired in the second half after keeping it close over the first 20 minutes, but the Terrapins' defense had something to do with that.

"Maryland is a very good team, and it was hard for us to match up against them because of their size and strength," VU coach Dave Robbins said.

The Panthers next play Mountain State in the season opener.

Maryland used a 7-1 spurt at the outset of the second half to go up by 15. Ekene Ibekwe made a layup and McCray hit a jumper to get the Terrapins started, and Caner-Medley sank a 3-pointer for a 43-28 lead.

It was 47-35 before McCray made a pair of 3-pointers in an 8-0 spree that put the Terrapins up by 20 with 13 minutes left.

Gist had 10 points and six rebounds, and the Terrapins overcame 16 turnovers in taking a 36-27 halftime lead.

Maryland gave the ball away seven times in the opening eight minutes, enabling Virginia Union to take an 11-10 lead in spite of 3-for-13 shooting. Travis Garrison then scored on a tip-in to put the Terrapins ahead for good.

Garrison's basket sparked a 12-3 run that made it 22-14, but Maryland wasn't able to expand the margin much before the break.

D.J. Strawberry had four turnovers in the first half and took the blame for the Terrapins' struggle to score.

"I started out kind of slow. I turned the ball over a couple times early and everything kind of went downhill after that," he said. "I usually make the easy play and I was trying to make the hard play. That's what killed me."