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University of Maryland Athletics

Derik Queen Dunk
49
Manhattan MC 0-1,0-0 MAAC
79
Winner Maryland MD 1-0,0-0 Big Ten
Manhattan MC
0-1,0-0 MAAC
49
Final
79
Maryland MD
1-0,0-0 Big Ten
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Manhattan MC 28 21 49
Maryland MD 31 48 79

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Queen Stars As Terps Win 48th Consecutive Home Opener, 79-49

COLLEGE PARK, MD – Derik Queen had one of the most dominant games in a freshman debut as the third season of the Kevin Willard era opened with a dominant 79-49 win over Manhattan on Monday at the XFINITY Center. Queen posted the first 20-point, 20-rebound game by a Maryland player since Joe Smith had 31 points and 21 rebounds against Texas in the NCAA Tournament in 1995. Queen finished with 22 points and 20 rebounds. He joined Kansas State's Michael Beasley in 2007 (32 points and 24 rebounds) as just the second player in college basketball since 1996–97 to post a 20-20 game in his freshman debut. 

He posted the most rebounds by a freshman in their debut for Maryland and the most by any Big Ten freshman in a debut since at least 1996-97. He even became the first Maryland freshman to record a double-double in a debut since Jalen Smith had 19 points and 13 rebounds in the 2018-19 season opener against Delaware. He achieved the feat in the first half of the game (11 points and 12 rebounds). 
  Maryland pulled away midway through the second half with a 28-6 run. Most of its damage was done on the fastbreak and in the paint. The Terps led both categories, 28-3 and 50-20, respectively. 

Junior transfer from Belmont, Ja'Kobi Gillespie, added 16 points, five rebounds and three assists in his debut for the Terrapins. Sophomore transfer from Virginia Tech Rodney Rice also provided a strong scoring effort, going for 12 points in his debut. Overall, the Terps scored 62 points from newcomers.  
  The Terps extended their win streak in home openers to 48 games — ranking in the top three nationally. Maryland has also won 10 straight home non-conference games and 16 consecutive against un-ranked non-conference foes. Willard has won all 18 home openers as a head coach, including his time at Seton Hall and Iona.
  Willard On Queen's Dominant Debut  
"I got the job three years ago, and the first place I went down to was Montverde to watch him. I've got to watch him over the last three years progress. I've got to see him lose almost 18 pounds since he got here. I think I said it on media day, he's one of the best freshmen, if not the best freshman in the country. I know a lot of people talk about other guys, but what he did tonight is what he does everyday in practice so it's not really that suprising." 

Queen On Making His Debut 
"No nerves. It was just to go out there and play basketball. That is what I love to do. I have played basketball forever, so why be nervous now."

Breaking Down The Action
  • Derik Queen scored the Terps' first points two minutes into the game and led the Terps with six points at the first media timeout. The Terps also led 11-7 while forcing Manhattan to miss its last five shots from the floor. 
  • At the second media timeout with 3:51 left to play in the first, the Terps led 24-22. Queen led all scorers with seven, and Ja'Kobi Gillespie trailed with six. 
  • Maryland entered the locker room with a 31-28 lead after a Gillespie buzzer-beating layup. Queen had already posted a double-double, and Maryland's defense limited Manhattan to zero fastbreak and second-chance points. 
  • Queen facilitated his own 7-0 run, marked by a converted and-1 at 16:34 in the second half. The Terps led 43-32. 
  • Jordan Geronimo threw down a thunderous dunk, and Gillespie drilled a deep three to mark a 14-2 run. With 11:14 to play in the game, the Terps led 57-39. 
  • Maryland's run grew to 28-6, with most of the damage being done in the paint and on the fastbreak. 
Double-Figure Factors
  • Freshman Derik Queen scored 22 points in double digits for his first career game.   
  • Ja'Kobi Gillespie scored 16 points and earned his 41st career game in double figures. It was his first game in double digits since transferring from Belmont. 
  • Rodney Rice netted 12 points in double digits for his fourth career game. After transferring from Virginia Tech, it was his first game in double figures as a Terp. 
Queen Of The Court  
  • Derik Queen is just the second player in college basketball to post a 20-20 game in his freshman debut since 1996-97. He joins Kansas State's Michael Beasley in 2007 (32 points and 24 rebounds).
  • He's the first Maryland player to post a 20-20 game since Joe Smith had 31 points and 21 rebounds against Texas in the 1995 NCAA Tournament. 
  • Queen is the first freshman in college basketball with a 20-20 game since Jalen Duran had 21 points and 20 rebounds for Memphis vs. UCF on March 11, 2022. 
  • Queen is the first Big Ten freshman with a 20-20 game in any game since at least 2008-09. 
  • Queen's 22 points are the most by a Maryland freshman in his debut game since Joe Smith had 26 vs. Georgetown in 1993. 
  • Queen's 20 rebounds are the most for any Maryland player in any game since Joe Smith had 21 vs. Texas in the 1995 NCAA Tournament. 
  • Queen's 20 rebounds are the most by a Maryland player in his Terrapin debut. 
  • Queen's 20 rebounds are the most by a Maryland freshman in a game since Joe Smith had 20 vs. Florida State in 1994. 
  • Queen's 20 rebounds are the most by any freshman in his first game since at least 2005-06 and most by any Big Ten freshman in a debut since at least 1996-97. 
Season Opener Success 
  • Maryland's 48-game win streak in home openers ranks in the top three nationally. The streak began with the 1977 season. The last time Maryland lost a home opener was on Nov. 27, 1976, when it lost 80-79 in overtime. 
  • The Terps are 313-75 all-time in XFINITY Center, including 28-7 under Kevin Willard. Maryland has won 10 straight home non-conference games and 16 consecutive against unranked non-conference foes.
  • Before the Notre Dame loss, the Terps had won eight consecutive home openers from 1968-69. Since 1963-64, Maryland has won 60-of-62.
Terp Debuts  Numbers To Know
  • 1: Derik Queen scored his first points as a Terp on a dunk at 18:10 in the first quarter. 
  • 1: Queen recorded the first double-double of his career, becoming the first true freshman to do so in program history since Jalen Smith in 2018-19. 
  • 2: For the second year in a row, a true freshman has debuted for the Terps, including DeShawn Harris-Smith last season and Queen today. 
  • 9: Nine Terps made their debut in the game.
  • 10: Maryland has won 10 straight home non-conference games and 16 consecutive against unranked non-conference foes.
  • 18: Kevin Willard has won all 18 home openers as a head coach, including his time at Seton Hall and Iona. 
  • 20: Queen's 20 rebounds were the most rebounds by a freshman in their debut for Maryland and the most by any Big Ten freshman in a debut since at least 1996-97.
  • 28: The Terps facilitated a 28-6 run in the second half. 
  • 48: Maryland's 48-game win streak dating back to the 1977 season in home openers ranks in the top three nationally.
  • 62: The Terps scored 62 points from newcomers.  
Up Next
  • Maryland will play Mount St. Mary's at XFINITY Center on Friday. The game will tip-off at 8 p.m. and be broadcast on Big Ten Network. The game will also be transmitted on Maryland Sports Radio Network. 
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