Postgame Quotes

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Jalen Smith had 19 points and 13 rebounds in his college debut, Bruno Fernando and Anthony Cowan Jr. each scored 15 and Maryland opened its 100th season by squeezing past Delaware 73-67 Tuesday night.

A trio of free throws from Cowan helped seal the win late, as Maryland (1-0) clinched its fifth straight season-opening win.  

Fernando went 5-for-5 from the floor and tallied 11 points to help Maryland take a 44-27 halftime lead.

Senior Eric Carter scored 22 of his career-high 29 points in the second half for the Blue Hens (0-1), now 0-10 against Big Ten foes. Carter went 12 for 14 from the floor and had a team-high nine rebounds.

Smith, a highly touted 6-10 forward out of Baltimore, teamed with Fernando to give Maryland a formidable presence in the frontcourt. The Terps snagged 15 offensive rebounds and finished with a 44-33 rebounding advantage.

Delaware led only once, 20-19 with 10 minutes elapsed, before successive dunks by Fernando and Joshua Tomaic put the Terps in charge.

After the Blue Hens closed to 29-26, a dunk by Fernando launched a 15-1 spree. Delaware did not make a basket over the final 5 minutes of the half.

Maryland will return to action on Friday night when the team takes a short trip to Annapolis to take on Navy in the Veteran's Classic.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

-Terps-