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University of Maryland Athletics

Jahmir Young
49
Niagara Niag 0-1,0-0 MAAC
71
Winner Maryland MD 1-0,0-0 Big Ten
Niagara Niag
0-1,0-0 MAAC
49
Final
71
Maryland MD
1-0,0-0 Big Ten
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Niagara Niag 27 22 49
Maryland MD 34 37 71

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Terps Open Willard Era With 71-49 Win Over Niagara

COLLEGE PARK, MD -- Maryland opened the Kevin Willard era in style on Monday night in XFINITY Center, cruising to a 71-49 victory over Niagara for its 46th consecutive home opener win. 

The Terps used a 9-0 run in the middle of the second half to go up 48-35 and take control of the game. Donta Scott, Jahmir Young and Don Carey Jr. all hit big shots in the ensuing minutes to put the game completely out of reach, getting the home crowd loud and on its feet. 

Scott, a member of the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Watch List, led the Terps with 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting (4-of-5 from deep) in a team-high 35 minutes. Scott also hit two key threes in the final seven minutes to keep Maryland comfortably ahead. 

"Donta's going be an 18-and-10 player," Willard said. "I think he's going to be a First-Team All-Big Ten player. 35 minutes is probably way too many minutes in his first game, but he's earned it from his career here."

Young, who played in his first Maryland game after three standout seasons at Charlotte, also came up big in all facets with 14 points to go along with a team-high four assists. Young and sophomore Julian Reese each grabbed seven boards. 

Maryland was stingy on defense all night, forcing 12 turnovers and blocking eight shots. Ian Martinez led the effort with five steals in his 16 minutes off the bench. 

Niagara was held to just 40 percent shooting and did not record a three-point basket all night. The Purple Eagles' 49 points were the fewest points Maryland allowed in a season opener since American only managed 56 in the 2016-17 season opener. 
 
Willard's Take

"It's a great feeling. I'm proud of this team; proud of this staff. It's been a crazy seven months to put together this roster and get these guys playing. We're not close to being good yet, but to get them playing as hard as they're playing and as unselfish as they're playing, I'm proud of this staff and proud of these guys."  

From The Guys 

"We came together and talked," Scott said of the team's defensive effort in the final 16 minutes. "We know that defense wins games and we had to step up and do it on the defensive end.…We forced some stops and forced some bad shots where we could just get out and push. That was big for us."

"It was exciting; it was fun," Young said of his first game as a Terp where he had about 30 family and friends in attendance. "My whole family came out. All my friends and family. Just being able to get this first win in front of them was special." 

Breaking Down The Action
  • The Terps used a balanced attack to jump out to an 18-8 lead, forcing Niagara to take a timeout at the 13:33 mark. Donta Scott led the fast start with eight points and Hakim Hart added five. 
  • The two sides traded baskets for the remainder of the first half and Maryland carried a 34-27 lead into the locker room. Scott's 10 points on 4-8 shooting were the difference for the Terps. 
  • The Purple Eagles made it a 39-35 game with 16 minutes remaining, but the Terps went on a 9-0 run to regain control. 
  • The Terps claimed their biggest lead of the night to that point with 4:39 remaining as Don Carey splashed in a jumper from the top of the key, giving the Terps a 60-43 lead and forcing Niagara into a timeout. 
  • Maryland continued to extend its lead in the final minutes thanks to big contributions across the roster.

For Openers
  • The Terps have now won 46 home openers in a row dating to the 1977-78 season during the Lefty Driesell era. Head coach Kevin Willard won his 13th straight home opener as a head coach and is now 11-2 over the last 13 seasons in season openers.

Double-Figures Factors
  • Donta Scott scored in double-figures for the 46th time in his career with 18 points. 
  • In his first game as a Terp, Jahmir Young tallied 14 points for his 76th career game in double-figures. 

Closing In On 1,000
  • With 18 points tonight, Donta Scott needs just 56 to reach 1,000 for his career, as he now has 944. That will make him the third player on the active roster to have 1,000 career points. Don Carey now has 1,220, while Jahmir Young leads the team with 1,435. 

Fresh Faces Making An Impact 
  • Six Terps made their Maryland debuts in Monday's game: Georgetown transfer Don Carey, Charlotte transfer Jahmir Young, Seton Hall transfer Jahari Long, St. Francis transfer Patrick Emilien, freshman Noah Batchelor and freshman Caelum Swanton-Rodger. 
  • Young and Carey both started and chipped in 14 and five points, respectively. Both guys played at least 27 minutes. 
  • Carey played in his 117th career gamem making his 109 start. Young played in his 86th career game overall - all starts including tonight.
  • Emilien was one of the first subs off the bench and added four points in 14 minutes. 
  • Batchelor also saw nine minutes on the floor and knocked down a three-pointer. 
  • Swanton-Rodger checked in with 1:25 remaining in play and added a late basket. 

Series History 
  • Maryland is now 3-0 all-time against Niagara. 

Notes and Nuggets
  • Hakim Hart had the first points of the Kevin Willard era at Maryland with a jumper 57 seconds into the game. 
  • The Terps held Niagara to no three-pointers made and allowed just five attempts from distance over the full 40 minutes of action, marking the first time the Terps held an opponent without a three since Nov. 24, 2017 against St. Bonaventure.
  • All 11 Terps that checked into the game scored at least one point. 

Up Next 
  • The Terps will host Western Carolina on Thursday at 7 pm in the XFINITY Center. That game can be caught on B1G+ and the Maryland Sports Network.
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