BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Maryland men's basketball went wire-to-wire, defeating Syracuse, 87-60, in the Nutrafol Gotham Classic at Barclays Center on Saturday. The Terps improved to 10-2 overall, achieving their best start to a season since the 2019-20, where they began the year 11-0. 

Maryland won by 27 points. Over the first 12 games of the season, Maryland has beaten teams by a combined total of 325 points. That's the largest cumulative total scoring margin for the Terps over the first 12 games of a season since 1980-81, tying its margin in 1994-95 (1210-885). 

The Terps were led by their guard play throughout the contest. Selton Miguel scored 24 points, earning the game's most valuable player, and Ja'Kobi Gillespie contributed 17 points. The Terps ended the first half riding a 10-0 run — a statistic they lead the nation in with 19. The run was part of a 17-2 overall run to end the half that put the game out of Syracuse's reach. 
 

Sel showed out. 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/NKStX6e4lQ

— Maryland Men's Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) December 21, 2024

Miguel scored the game's first five points, foreshadowing another big performance. The fifth-year guard went 8-of-11 from the floor, including a career-best 6-of-9 from three. He even added two rebounds, two assists and two steals to his standout performance. This was his second game in a row scoring 20 or more points, and he has now scored double figures in each of his last six games. 

Gillespie dished out a career-high 11 assists and grabbed five rebounds to accompany his scoring outburst. He earned his first career double-double and became the first Terps to record one with points and assists since Anthony Cowan Jr. (13 points and 10 assists) against Nebraska on Feb. 11, 2020. Gillespie has scored double-digit points in all but two games this season. 

Julian Reese also recorded a double-double, the 27th of his career and fifth of the season, with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Reese has the third most double-doubles of any Terp since 1996-97. Derik Queen fell just short of becoming the third Terp with a double-double. He scored 11 points and secured eight rebounds.

Maryland's defense stifled Syracuse's offense throughout the contest, forcing 21 turnovers. The Terps forced double-digit turnovers in the first half alone, a feat they have accomplished in six games this season. 

Syracuse (5-6) was led by Elijah Moore (16 points) and Donnie Freeman (15 points). The Terps lead the all-time series against the Orange, 6-4, breaking a four-game losing streak. This is also the third time the Terps played at the Barclays Center in the last four seasons.
 

Orange crushed.

— Maryland Men's Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) December 21, 2024

Willard's Take
"The biggest thing is we are passing the basketball really well. I think we ended up with 26 assists. It could have been 36 assists, we missed some really easy wide open threes and easy dunks in the first half. What I loved about it was our defensive pressure was great. Even when we missed shots, I thought our defensive intensity was really good."

From The Guys
"We are a very versatile team", said Julian Reese. We have a lot of trust in guys that can score. It makes it easier to pass and everyone more willing to pass the ball. I think you are seeing that on display on the court right now."

Breaking Down The Action

• Selton Miguel scored the game's first five points with a 3-pointer and two made free throws. 
• Rodney Rice added a 3-pointer to cap off a quick 7-0 run by the Terps. They led 12-6 at the first media timeout (12:56). Maryland's defense forced six turnovers in the first seven minutes. 
• Syracuse called a timeout as Maryland made five of its last six shots from the floor and led 23-11 with 7:42 left in the half. Miguel already reached double-digit points. 
• Miguel drilled his third 3-pointer off a behind-the-back pass from Ja'Kobi Gillespie at 6:25. The shot marked another 7-0 run by the Terps. 
• Maryland led 43-17 at the end of the half. The 17 points were tied for the second least amount of points it gave up in the first half this season. Miguel led all scorers with 16 and was on his way to back-to-back 20-point scoring outings. 
• The Terps led by as many as 34 in the early minutes of the second half but led 61-34 at the 11-minute mark. Miguel eclipsed 20 points for the second game in a row. 
• Maryland ignited another run, a 13-0 run leading into a media timeout with 7:30 to play. It held a commanding lead of 74-37. 

Double-Figure Factors

• Selton Miguel scored 24 points and earned his 70th career game in double figures. It was his ninth as a Terp this season and sixth in a row. He leads the Terps with 1,336 career points in his five-year career.
• Ja'Kobi Gillespie scored 17 points and earned his 50th career game in double figures. It was his 10th game scoring double digits as a Terp. 
• Derik Queen scored 11 points, scoring double-digit points for the 11th time in his freshman season. He also accomplished the feat in 10 straight games.
• Julian Reese recorded 11 points for his 64th career game in double digits. He has scored double figures for the eighth time this season. 

Crushing The Competition 

• Maryland won by +27 points, making it nine wins this season by 20 or more points, the most in an entire season for the Terps since the 2015-16 season, when they had 10 wins by 20 or more points. Maryland also achieved this in just 12 games. 
• Over the first 12 games of the season, Maryland has beaten teams by a combined total of 325 points. It's the largest cumulative total scoring margin for the Terps over the first 12 games of a season since 1980-81, tying its margin in 1994-95 (1210-885).

Juju Beast 

• Julian Reese scored 11 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the 27th double-double of his career. It was his fifth double-double of the season. 
• Since 2010-11, Reese has had the most double-doubles for a Terp, and since 1996-97, he has had the third most. 
• Reese moved to 10th on Maryland's all-time rebounds list. He now has 796 boards, breaking a tie with James Gist (2004-08) and passing Al Bunge (795 from 1957-60). 
• The big man also blocked one shot, ranking ninth on Maryland's all-time blocked shots list with 138 in his career. He's closing in on eighth place Damonte Dodd (141 from 2013-17). 
• He also ranks in the top 50 on the all-time scoring list, with 1,154 career points in his four-year career. 
• Reese finished last season with an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honor and was named to this season's Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award Watch List.

Series + Barclays History

• The Terps lead the all-time series 6-4 against the Orange. The win also broke a four-game losing streak. 
• Maryland and Syracuse have met three times in the NCAA Tournament and twice in the NIT.
• The squads played just once as ACC teams, with Syracuse holding off the Terps 57-55 at XFINITY Center in 2013-14.
• This marks the third time in the last four seasons the Terps are playing at the Barclays Center.
• Overall, Maryland is 4-3 at Barclays Center. The Terps last made an appearance in Brooklyn during the 2022-23 season - a 56-53 loss to No. 7 Tennessee (Maryland was ranked No. 13) in the 2022 Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational.
• In 2021, also the Hall of Fame Invitational, Maryland defeated No. 20 Florida at Barclays, 70-68, on Dec. 12, 2021.
• Maryland also won two games in the Barclays Classic in 2016. It faced UConn in 2013 and played the first college basketball game at the venue back in 2012 against Kentucky.

Numbers And Nuggets 

• 1: Ja'Kobi Gillespie recorded his first career double-double. 
• 6: The Terps have forced 10+ turnovers in the first half of six games this season.
• 6: Selton Miguel has six straight double-digit scoring games. 
• 6: Miguel made a career-best six 3-pointers. 
• 8: The Terps are ranked No. 8 in the NET Rankings. 
• 9: Maryland has allowed 30 or fewer points in the first half for the ninth time in 12 games. 
• 10: The Terps are 10-2 on the season, their best start since starting the 2019-20 season 11-0.
• 11: Gillespie dished out a career-high 11 assists.   
• 18: The Terps are one of 18 teams with five or more regular-rotation players averaging double-figure points.
• 18: The past 18 of 47 teams that have competed in the Gotham Classic have gone on to earn postseason bids in March.  
• 18: Gillespie has made a 3FG in 18 games in a row and 33 of his last 34 games. 
• 20: The Terps have 20 10-0 or better runs this year, which leads the nation and matches last season's total.
• 27: Julian Reese posted his 27th career double-double, which is the third-most for Maryland since 1996-97. 
• 1,336: Miguel leads the Terps with 1,336 career points in his five-year career.
• 325: Maryland's +325 scoring margin through 12 games is tied for its best through that many games in program history. 

Up Next

• Maryland will return to XFINITY Center for one last non-conference game. It will play Maryland Eastern Shore on Dec. 28. The game starts at noon and will be televised on Big Ten Network and Maryland Sports Radio Network.