Jan. 4, 2007
Final Stats |
Quotes |
Notes |
Photo Gallery 
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) -- Maryland concluded the non-league portion of its schedule with a feel-good rout that put the Terrapins in the proper frame of mind for Atlantic Coast Conference play.
D.J. Strawberry scored 20 points, James Gist and Ekene Ibekwe had 11 apiece, and Maryland rolled to its fifth straight victory, 88-57, over winless Iona on Thursday night.
Mike Jones and Greivis Vasquez each scored 10 points for the Terrapins (14-2), who begin a run of 15 straight ACC games next week.
"We're looking forward to it. We're ready to go," Terrapins coach Gary Williams said. "The emotion and everything is different in those games."
Strawberry went 7-for-11 from the floor, led the Terrapins with seven assists and added six rebounds. The senior guard has led Maryland in scoring in seven games this season.
"I'm just trying to play my game, night in and night out, make teams stop me," Strawberry said. "And when they stop me, I have to find the open man. Hopefully I'll continue to play like this."
From this point on, the intensity cranks up.
"I'm so excited. I can't wait," freshman guard Greivis Vasquez said. "That's what I came here for, to play tough games (in the ACC)."
Justin Marshall and Alejo Rodriguez scored 11 points apiece for Iona (0-12). The Gaels are the lone Division I team without a victory this season.
Iona finished with 24 turnovers and made half as many field goals (18) as the Terrapins.
"They're very good. The come at you, they're focused and they work together," Iona coach Jeff Ruland said.
The Gaels started two freshmen and had two more come off the bench, but Ruland didn't blame inexperience for the defeat.
"You can expect some mistakes from the younger guys, but I need more from the older guys," he said. "They don't lead them, we don't talk on defense. ... It's frustrating."
Maryland led 51-34 with 16 minutes left when Ruland finally expressed his displeasure. After two straight calls went against the Gaels, Ruland stepped onto the court and raised his voice, actions that earned him a technical foul.
Things didn't get any easier for the beleaguered coach. Jones made one of two foul shots to start a 10-1 run that included successive dunks by Strawberry and Will Bowers.
The Terrapins shot 50 percent and forced 13 turnovers in taking a 43-28 halftime lead.
The score was tied at 4 before Maryland scored 10 straight points during a run of five turnovers by Iona. Ibekwe started the surge with a jumper and two free throws, and Strawberry and Jones followed with 3-pointers.
Then, after Anthony Bruin made two foul shots for the Gaels, Bambale Osby made two straight baskets to spark a 10-2 spree that put the Terrapins up 24-8. At that point, Iona was 3-for-6 from the floor with nine turnovers.
Maryland let the lead slip to 32-20, then ripped off six points in a row to go up by 18. Gist started the run with two free throws, and freshman guard Eric Hayes added a pair of baskets in the lane.
