UNCASVILLE, CT --Â The Terps continued their perfect start in the Kevin Willard era as Maryland took down previously undefeated Saint Louis in the opening game of the 2022 Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off, 95-67, at Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday afternoon.
With the win, Willard becomes the first head coach in the program's history to post a 4-0 record during their first season at the helm dating back to H. Burton Shipley who was the first official head coach in 1923-24.
After opening the season with three wins by 20 or more points at home, the Terps answered their first big test of the young season in dominating the Billikens, who were among the top teams in 'others receiving votes' in this week's AP Poll and No. 32 in the most recent KenPom Ratings. Maryland led 51-27 at halftime behind 9-of-19 shooting from deep and ferocious defense that held Saint Louis to just 25 percent shooting from the field.Â
The Terps (4-0) will play either Miami (FL) or Providence in the Championship Game on Sunday at 1 p.m., on ESPN. Both the Hurricanes and Friars played into the Sweet 16 of last year's NCAA Tournament. Â
Donta Scott tied his career-high with 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting to lead the way for the Terps.
Maryland had its best shooting performance of the young season, pouring in 13 three-pointers on 32 attempts. Don Carey canned four threes on 4-of-10 shooting from deep amd Ian Martinez set a new career-high with 14 on 6-of-8 shooting (2-of-4 from three).Â
As they have been in every single game this year, the Terps were stifling defensively once again. They held the Billikens to just 21-of-58 (36.2 percent) shooting and created 14 turnovers.Â
The Terps won their fourth game in a row by at least 20 points, marking the first time the 2009-10 season that Maryland won four games in a row by at least 20. In that season 13 years ago, the Terps also won the first four games of the season by a 20-point plus margin.Â
Willard's Takes
"I've had so much fun coaching this group because they're really understanding what we have to take away from a gameplan standpoint, they're really paying attention to the scouting report, they're embracing the scouting report, and then they're going out and executing it. For being such a young group together, even though they're older guys, I'm really happy with the way they're coming out with their intensity and then we're sticking to the defensive gameplan."
"Tomorrow's an opportunity to win a championship. Anytime you have an opportunity like that, you have to seize it, take advantage of it. I think these guys are getting rewarded for their hard work."Â
From The GuysÂ
"It starts with everybody," Scott said of the program's impressive start to the season. "Coaches, managers, players, we come in everyday locked in and ready to get better. And not just that, but our history. There's a great history around Maryland Basketball…It's not just what we're doing now, it's bigger. We just have to show it and now we're showing it.Â
"It felt good," Carey said of his hot shooting day. "Everyday I believe in my shot. My teammates encourage me, my coaches encourage me to stick to my shot. I put in the work everyday, so I knew eventually those shots would fall."
Breaking Down The Action
- Maryland jumped out to a 10-2 run in the first four minutes; holding SLU to 1-of-5 to start the game while hitting 4-of-8, punctuated by a Don Carey three-pointer.
- The Terps' eight-point lead held steady through the under-eight timeout in the first half, 25-17. Carey led the way with a trio of triples and the Terps held the Billikens to just six makes on their first 22 attempts.
- Aided by a 10-0 run and a Saint Louis field goal drought spanning over six minutes, Maryland went into halftime leading 51-27. Three Terps reached double-figures in the first 20 minutes: Hakim Hart (16), Donta Scott (12) and Carey (12).Â
- Maryland didn't slow down after intermission, pushing its lead to 66-44 at the 11:08 mark. The Terps made each of their five three-point attempts in that span, with two apiece from Carey and Jahmir Young and one from Scott.Â
- The Terps continued to build their lead to the very end, getting contributions all across the board to win 95-67.Â
Another Big First Half
- For the third straight game, Maryland led by double figures at the intermission, 51-27. In the Willard Era, the Terps have taken leads into halftime in all four games. Against Binghamton, Maryland led 44-23 for its largest (+21) halftime lead of the year.
- It marked the largest halftime lead (+24) since holding a 49-25 lead over N.C. A&T on Nov. 12, 2018.
- It was also the second straight game to lead by 20-or-more at the break after building out a 44-23 lead against Binghamton.
- The 51 points for the Terps were the most of any first half this season.
Double-Figure UpdateÂ
- Maryland had five players reach double-figures for the first since Jan. 3, 2022 against Iowa.Â
- Donta Scott netted a career-high tying 25 for his second game this season in double-figures and 48th in his career with double-figures. It was the fourth time in his career that he scored more than 20 points in a game.Â
- Hakim Hart scored in double-figures for the third game in a row and the 28th time in his career with 16. Hart was 6-for-9 from the floor in the first half to lead the Terps with 16 points.
- Don Carey had his best game so far as a Terp with a season-high 16 points, hitting 4-of-10 from deep. It marked the 69th time in his collegiate career to reach double-figures.
- Ian Martinez scored a career-high 14 points as he hit double-figures for the fourth time of his career and the first this season.Â
- Jahmir Young also reached the double-digit point mark with 11. He now has 78 career games in double-figures, including three this season.Â
Dominant Defense, Yet Again
- The Terps forced SLU into 14 turnovers on the day; the previous high for their season was 12.Â
- In the first half, the Billikens converted on only eight of 32 shots from the field for abysmal 25 percent shooting thanks to a Maryland defense that was seemingly everywhere on the floor.
- Over its first four games, Maryland is giving up an average of 23 points through the first half of play.
- Saint Louis finished the day shooting just 36 percent. The Terps have now won 10 consecutive games when holding team to under 40% shooting from the field
Closing In On 1,000
- With 25 points tonight, Donta Scott needs just 14 to reach 1,000 for his career with 986. That will make him the third player on the active roster to have 1,000 career points. Don Carey now has 1,245, while Jahmir Young leads the team with 1,469.Â
Notes and Nuggets
- The Terps held Saint Louis to just .362 percent shooting on the day on 20-of-56 from the floor. The Billikens entered the game shooting .482 from the field including .467 in their last game against Memphis. Â
- In winning four games in a row by 20-plus points, the Terps have their longest stretch of 20-point wins since the first four games of the 2009-10 season, when Maryland beat Charleston Southern (89-51), Fairfield (71-42), New Hampshire (82-55) and Chaminade (79-51).Â
- Maryland is now 122-52 (.699) in regular-season tournaments all-time. The Terps have won 32 total championships - most recently the Orlando Invitational in 2019 (defeated Temple, Harvard, and Marquette).
Up Next
- The Terps advance to the 2022 Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Championship Game to face the winner of Miami (FL) and Providence. That game will be played on Sunday at 1 p.m. and will air on ESPN and the Maryland Sports Radio Network.
