NASSAU, BAHAMAS -- The Maryland men's basketball team used a second-half comeback to upend the Richmond Spiders, 86-80, to advance to the title game of the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship tournament on Thanksgiving Thursday. 

Hakim Hart had his best game of the season with 24 points, shooting 8-of-9 from the floor, making 4-of-5 three-pointers and was a perfect 4-of-4 from the foul line. He also played solid defense, as the Terps limited the Spiders' leading scorer Tyler Burton (19.8 ppg entering the game), to 11 points. 

Eric Ayala scored 20 points, hitting 7-of-13 from the floor, including three three-pointers. He also tied his career-high with nine rebounds. 

Down by as many as 12 points late in the first half, Maryland's rally was keyed by Hart, who scored 17 in the second half as the Terps outscored Richmond, 54-39, over the final 20 minutes. A 17-3 run in the final minutes proved to be the difference. 

Qudus Wahab (13 points) hit a pair of free throws and a jumper in the final three minutes left put the Terps ahead for good at 80-74. 

Fatts Russell added 15 points and six assists. 

After shooting 35 percent in the first half, Maryland shot 65.4 from the floor in the second half (17-of-26) with 7-of-13 from 3-point range. 

Richmond (3-3) was led by Grant Golden (18 points and five rebounds) and Jacob Gilyard (14 points). 

Turgeon's Take

"What a great win for us. We played a team that I thought played exceptionally well in Richmond. The last two and a half minutes of the first half got us back in the game and then the second half was terrific. The effort was just off the charts. [Our] guys battled and we got smarter defensively. So proud of my group."

Breaking Down The Action

• Ayala scored the first six points for the Terps, and the team managed to take their first lead of the game (12-11) on his driving layup with 12:51 remaining in the half. The teams began trading points late in the first half with Hart hitting a three-pointer and Wahab knocking down five free throws in the first fifteen minutes. The Spiders proceeded to use a 12-0 run to take a 41-32 lead into halftime.
• The Terps came out of the intermission and quickly cut the lead to 46-45, with Hart knocking down a three-pointer along with back-to-back dunks from Donta Scott and Wahab. The Spiders responded with a run of their own and rebuilt their lead back up to seven (52-45), only for Maryland to cut it again to 52-51 with 13:00 remaining. The two teams continued to trade scoring runs with Maryland taking the lead at 73-72 with 4:06 remaining. The Terps used a late 17-3 to ice the game and advance in the tournament.

Double-Figure Update

• Hart scored in double figures for the first time this season and ninth time in his career. 
• Ayala has scored in double-figures in all six games this season and now has 57 in his career. 
• Russell hit double-figures for the fifth time in as many games this season and 81st time in his career. 
• Wahab scored in double figures for the third time as a Terp and 26th time in his career. 

Tournament Success

• Maryland has a long history of in-season tournament success, collecting 32 championships and a 122-52 (.701) overall record.
• The Terrapins have participated in six tournaments since 2013-14, posting a 14-1 record and capturing five titles during that span. Maryland most recently won the Orlando Invitational in 2019-20.

The Richmond Series

• Maryland is 27-15 all-time against Richmond in a series that dates back to the inaugural meeting in 1924. The Terrapins have had the better of the Spiders as of late, having now won 10 consecutive games dating back to 1971.
• The most recent meeting on Nov. 25, 2016, was an overtime thriller, as Melo Trimble scored 31 points and Kevin Huerter added 12 and 10 to defeat the Spiders, 88-82, at Barclays Center.

Up Next 

• The Terps will take on the Louisville Cardinals on Saturday, Nov. 27 at 12:30 p.m with the winner to be crowned the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Champions. 
• The game will be live on CBS Sports Network and the Maryland Sports Radio Network.