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University of Maryland Athletics

Pharrel Payne Dunk Vs Wagner
63
Wagner WC 1-6,0-0 NEC
89
Winner Maryland MD 6-3,0-0 Big Ten
Wagner WC
1-6,0-0 NEC
63
Final
89
Maryland MD
6-3,0-0 Big Ten
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Wagner WC 26 37 63
Maryland MD 33 56 89

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Terps Open December With 89-63 Win Over Wagner

Maryland won its third straight game at the XFINITY Center on the back of Pharrel Payne’s career night.

COLLEGE PARK, MD — Maryland got the fresh month started with a 89-63 win over Wagner (1-6) at the XFINITY Center on Tuesday night. Pharrel Payne recorded his second double-double of the season as the Terps (6-3) won their third straight home contest. Payne continued to pave the way for the Terps' offense. He led all scorers with a career-high 30 points and added 10 rebounds and three blocks for his second double-double of the season and 10th of his career. Payne has scored in double figures in every game he's played in this season and tallied his 10th-career performance of 20+ points.  Payne became the first Terp to tally a 30/10 night since Jahmir Young did so against Ohio State in 2023. Payne knocked down 14 free throws in the dominant win.

Darius Adams recorded his seventh straight game with double-digit points. He contributed six of Maryland's season-high 48 total rebounds on a night where the Terps scored 40 points in the paint and forced 18 turnovers. Elijah Saunders had a good night from three-point range, hitting both of Maryland's first deep buckets as a part of his nine-point, five-rebound night. He hit a season-high three three-pointers (3-for-6) in the win. Myles Rice added 16 points (14 in the second half) to the Terps' offensive breakout as they scored 56 points in the second half alone.  Solomon Washington took the floor for the first time this season and contributed 10 points and six rebounds in his first game in a Maryland uniform. The Terps hit each of their last four field goals in the first half and ended the frame on a 6-0 run to take a 33-26 lead into the break. Maryland pulled away with a 16-4 run midway through the second half to snare its sixth victory of the season as the dawn of conference play looms. How It Happened:
1st Half:
  • Payne put up a layup on the night's opening possession to put Maryland on the board.
  • Solomon Washington hit a free throw for his first point of the season. 
  • Another Payne bucket put the Terps ahead 10-5.
  • Saunders hit the Terps' first three of the night midway through the half. 
  • A Payne layup gave him double-digits in the first half.
  • A Wagner dunk evened the game at 19-19 with five minutes left in the frame. 
  • Saunders hit a three to put Maryland back ahead 23-22.
  • The Terps led 33-26 at halftime.
2nd Half:
  • Myles Rice added an early layup.
  • A Payne dunk put Maryland ahead 42-31.
  • Adams drained a three to reach double figures and extend the lead to 48-35.
  • A Payne ally-oop from Adams gave him a new season high in points. 
  • Maryland used a 16-4 run to claim a 52-35 lead and put the contest away. 
  • A third Saunders three extended the lead.
  • Payne slammed another alley-oop to tie his career high and sank a free throw to set a new mark.
  • Payne grabbed a rebound, drew the foul, and sank the free throws to clinch his double-double.
  • Washington slammed a dunk home to build a 75-50 lead. 
  • Maryland snatched the 89-63 win.
Double-Digit Days:
  • Payne (30 points) has scored in double figures in all eight games he's played in this season and 51 times this season. 
  • Rice (16 points) reached double figures for the second time in his career on Monday 
  • Adams (12 points) recorded double-digit scoring for the seventh straight game and the eighth time in his career. 
  • Washington (10 points) scored in double figures in his Terps debut and for the 18th time in his career.
Wins Over Wagner:
  • Maryland improved to 4-0 all-time against Wagner on Monday in the first game between the two teams since 2014.
  • The Seahawks were Maryland's first opponent as a member of the Big Ten Conference as the Terps' season-opening foe in 2014.
  • Three of the four contests have taken place in College Park. 
  • The Terps' biggest win in the series was the 82-48 (+34) victory over the Seahawks in 2014.
Welcoming Washington Back:
  • Washington made his first appearance of the season, playing in his 98th-career game and making his 48th-career start.
  • He logged 10 points and six rebounds in 25 minutes of action in his return.
Numbers To Know:
  • 4: Maryland improved to 4-0 all-time over Wagner.
  • 26: Maryland's +26 point differential was its largest margin of victory this season.
  • 30: Payne scored a career-high 30 points. 
  • 31: The Terps held Wagner to a 31% FG mark in the first half. 
  • 32: Maryland made more free throws (32) than Wagner attempted (18).
  • 40: Maryland has attempted 40+ free throws twice this season.
  • 48: The Terps outrebounded Wagner 48-37, marking a season high for the Terps.
Buzz Williams' Breakdown:
  • "I'm glad Washington's back and he didn't get hurt while playing. He will help us on the glass on both ends of the floor. I'm very thankful that he's back out there."
  • "We are thankful for the healthy bodies. We're trying to make up for missed time."
  • "I'm encouraged by some of the things I saw tonight and I'm hoping we can maintain them."
  • "I really like Adams. I like his spirit and his teachability, maybe more than I like his game. He seeks learning. He's very curious. He's in the gym often. He wants to learn. He has very much a learner's spirit. I think he does a good job taking the right shots and his rebounding effort continues to improve. I like the trajectory that he's on and we're very thankful that he's here."
  • "I thought the predictability of our shots was much better."
  • "Payne commands attention, and we try to have the right dose of where we get him touches. We need him to have a very high usage rate."
Payne's Powerful Performance:
  • "I was just doing what I do. Physicality is a big part of my game and getting to the hoop, and that helped me draw some free throws."
  • "The last week has been great for me. Being able to get back on the court and doing everything I can to help has just been great."
  • "We came into the game with the mentality of not turning the ball over."
Solomon's Sweet Tuesday:
  • "It felt really great. Just excited to be here. Glad to be a Terp."
  • "I knew I was going to be ready. I had to get my wind back, but we'll be straight come Saturday."
  • "We had a lot of max-effort plays and guys diving on balls. That's Buzz Williams basketball right there."
Up Next:
  • Maryland heads on the road to start conference play against Iowa on Dec. 6. Tipoff is set for 4 PM and the game will air on FS1.
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