SEATTLE – The No. 11-ranked and No. 4-seeded Maryland men's basketball team advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round after defeating No. 13-seeded Grand Canyon, 81-49, in the first round at Climate Pledge Arena on Friday. The 32-point victory was Maryland's largest in an NCAA Tournament game in program history.
The win improved Maryland to 26-8, the most wins for the program since going 27-9 in 2015-16 – the last time the Terps advanced to the Sweet 16. Overall, it's tied for the sixth most wins for a single season in program history. The Terps have won 16 of their last 17 NCAA Tournament opening-round games since 1997.
Maryland will play No. 12 seed Colorado State in the second round on Sunday, March 23. The game time and streaming platform will be announced. It will be broadcast on the Maryland Sports Radio Network.
After trailing 7-2 through the first 5:09, the Terps sparked runs of 7-0, 9-0 and 11-0 to lead GCU (26-8) 42-28 at halftime. The 14-point lead at the break was Maryland's largest halftime lead in the NCAA Tournament since leading Xavier by 17 in 2003. Maryland remained in front for the entire second half, leading by double-digits the entire half.
Julian Reese led the Terps, falling just short of a double-double with 18 points while pulling down nine rebounds. The senior added two blocks and two steals to his impressive stat line.
Ja'Kobi Gillespie added 16 points, three assists, three rebounds and two steals. He made two 3-pointers, passing Mike Jones for most threes in a single season in program history. The junior has 82 threes through 34 games. Gillespie also recorded his 21st game this season with multiple steals, the most by a Maryland player since Juan Dixon (22) in 2002.
Derik Queen earned a double-double in the contest. The freshman tallied 12 points and 15 rebounds, earning his 15 double-double of the season. He also added three assists and two blocks to his stat line.
The last Terp to post a double-double in the NCAA Tournament was Bruno Fernando (15 points & 15 rebounds) in the 2019 round of 32 against LSU. Queen has the most double-doubles by a Maryland freshman since Joe Smith in 1993-94.
Other standout performers included Selton Miguel (13 points),
DeShawn Harris-Smith (11 points) and
Rodney Rice (nine points). Harris-Smith finished with a season-high in points on 5-of-5 shooting from the floor. He became the first Terp to shoot 100% from the field in an NCAA Tournament game since Jamar Smith (6-of-6) against Xavier on March 23, 2003 (min. 5 attempts).
The Terps even broke their single-season program record for 3-pointers made. With seven threes made in the game, they now have 276 on the season. The mark surpassed the 272 3-pointers made in 2016-17.
This is the 31st all-time appearance for Maryland in the NCAA Tournament. The bid marks Maryland's seventh appearance in the last nine applicable years (2020 canceled due to COVID-19). The Terps boast a 45-29 overall record in the dance and have also won 16 of their last 17 opening-round games in the NCAA Tournament since 1997.
With 26 wins this season, head coach Kevin Willard set a new high for most wins for a single season. He surpassed his 2015-16 season, leading Seton Hall to a 25-9 overall record as the Pirates won the Big East Tournament Championship.
Willard's Take
"Really proud of the way my team has played this year. Battling through some really tough losses, especially the four buzzer beaters this year, to bounce back and put us in a great position and to get a four seed. So obviously going to play a very, very good basketball team tomorrow, but looking forward to being here."
From The Guys
"I think just sticking to the basketball we play, just staying in our brand of basketball and just keep playing together like we have all season and we'll be good," Reese said regarding the team's formula for continued succes."
Breaking Down The Action
- Maryland trailed 5-2 at the first media timeout (15:37). Julian Reese got the lone bucket for Maryland to go on a second chance opportunity. As a team, the Terps limited the Antelopes to just 2-of-9 shooting from the floor to begin the game.
- The Terps sparked a 9-0 run leading into the 11:21 media timeout. They made their last three shots from the floor. Reese had four points during the run, and Ja'Kobi Gillespie drilled a 3-pointer.
- Grand Canyon called a timeout after Maryland made its last seven from the floor. Maryland led 20-12, and Reese already had 10 points and four rebounds.
- GCU called another timeout at 7:12 as Maryland rode an 11-0 run and led 26-12. DeShawn Harris-Smith made back-to-back layups to cap off the run.
- The Terps scored runs of 9-0, 11-0, and 7-0 in the game, and they led 42-28 at the break. Reese (12 points) and Gillespie (11 points) each had double-digit points. As a team, Maryland shot 52% from the floor.
- At the 15:47 second-half media timeout, Maryland led 49-34. The Crab Five had 45 of Maryland's 49 points.
- Maryland stretched its lead to 55-36 at the 11:36 media timeout. Derik Queen joined Reese and Gillespie as Terps in double figures (11 points). Rodney Rice was approaching as the fourth (nine points). GCU was in the midst of a 3:20 scoring drought.
- Grand Canyon called a timeout as the Terps led by 26 (71-45) at the 5:20 mark. It was Maryland's largest lead of the game up to that point.
Double-Figure Factors
- Julian Reese recorded 18 points for his 79th career game in double digits. He has scored double figures for the 23rd time this season.
- Ja'Kobi Gillespie scored 16 points and earned his 68th career game in double figures. It was his 28th game scoring double digits this season. He's tied with Queen for the most double-digit scoring games this season.
- Selton Miguel scored 13 points, his 86th career double-figure game and his 25th as a Terp this season. He leads the Terps in double-digit scoring games and overall scoring, with 1,597 career points in his five-year career.
- Derik Queen scored 12 points, scoring double-digit points for the 28th time in his freshman season. It was his 13th straight game scoring in double figures. He's tied with Gillespie for the most double-digit scoring games this season.
- DeShawn Harris-Smith added 11 points for his ninth double-digit scoring game. It was his second time this season scoring in double figures.
Terps In The Big Dance
- This is the 31st all-time appearance for Maryland in the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Tournament bid marks Maryland's seventh appearance in the last nine applicable years (2020 canceled due to COVID-19). The Terps boast a 45-29 overall record in the dance.
- The four seed is the highest for Maryland in the NCAA Tournament since also being a four seed in 2015.
- The Terps have reached the Sweet Sixteen 14 times, the Elite Eight four times, the Final Four twice and won the NCAA National Championship title in 2002.
- The Terrapins have won 16 of their last 17 opening-round games since 1997.
- Maryland is 9-5 all-time in NCAA Tournament games on the West Coast. The most recent was the 2016 Midwest Regional Second and Third Rounds in Spokane, Washington, where the Terps defeated South Dakota State and Hawaii to earn their most recent trip to the NCAA Sweet 16.
- Most recently, Maryland defeated West Virginia in the 2023 NCAA First Round before falling to top-seed Alabama in the second round.
Willard's Coaching Success
- With 26 wins this season, head coach Kevin Willard set a new high for most wins for a single season. He surpassed his 2015-16 season, leading Seton Hall to a 25-9 overall record as the Pirates won the Big East Tournament Championship.
- Willard's 14 league wins are the most of his career. His previous high mark was 13 at Seton Hall in 2019-20.
- He has 64 overall wins and 33 Big Ten conference wins in his first three seasons at Maryland. That marks the best opening three-year win total for any coach in Maryland history. The previous high was 54 by Lefty Driesell from 1969-72.
- His 32 league wins are tied for the most in an opening three-year stretch with Bud Millikan (1951-53).
The Crab Five
- Maryland's starters, dubbed "The Crab Five" on social media, combined to score 68 of its 81 points in the game.
- The scoring amongst the starters was as follows: Julian Reese (18 points), Ja'Kobi Gillespie (16 points), Derik Queen (12 points), Selton Miguel (13 points), and Rodney Rice (nine points).
- Maryland is one of four major conference programs with all five starters scoring double figures while starting at least 50 percent of the team's games. Arizona State, Kentucky and Michigan join the Terps. The Terps' five consists of: Queen (16.2), Gillespie (14.7), Rice (13.8), Reese (13.3), and Miguel (12).
- Maryland's five starters — the team's five leading scorers — have a combined scoring average of 70. It's the highest among all major conference programs.
Queen Of The Court
- Derik Queen scored 12 points while grabbing 15 rebounds, earning his 15th career double-double. He's one of just 13 Terps to post a double-double in their rookie seasons. He has the most double-doubles by a Maryland freshman since Joe Smith, who had 20 in 1993-94.
- The last Terp to post a double-double in the NCAA Tournament was Bruno Fernando (15 points & 15 rebounds) in the 2019 round of 32 against LSU. The last freshman to have 10+ rebounds in an NCAA game was Jalen Smith (12) in 2019 against Belmont.
- Queen's points per game mark (16.2) is second among Maryland freshmen from 1947-48. Joe Smith (19.4) is the only one who averaged more points. Furthermore, 18 of the top 26 freshmen scorers in program history were NBA Draft picks.
- The freshman is third on the program's freshman scoring list with 550 points this season. Next on the list is Melo Trimble, who scored 568 points in 2015.
- Queen is third on the freshman rebounding list with 312 boards. Second on the list is Joe Smith (322 from 1994).
Juju Beast
- Julian Reese scored 18 points while grabbing nine rebounds, falling just short of a double-double.
- Reese is tied for 20th all-time in program history for scoring with 1,461 points. He passed Eric Ayala (1449 from 2018-22) and Derrick Lewis (1,458 from 1984-88). He's tied with Greg Manning (1977-81).
- He has 995 rebounds in his career, ranking third on Maryland's all-time rebounds list. Second on the list is Lonny Baxter (998 from 1998-2002).
- The big man blocked two shots, ranking eighth on Maryland's all-time blocked shots list with 179 in his career. Joe Smith ranks seventh with 190 blocks from 1993-95.
- Reese has over 1,400 points and 900 rebounds in his career. He's one of five players in program history who reached those career thresholds.
Postseason Honors
- Derik Queen was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He was also named to the All-Big Ten First Team by the coaches and Second Team by the media. He was a unanimous selection to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Queen is the first Terp since Melo Trimble in 2014-15 to earn All-Big Ten First Team honors. He was also named an AP All-America Honorable Mention, in addition to being named to the Big Ten All-Tournament and NABC All-District First Team.
- Ja'Kobi Gillespie was selected by the coaches and media as an All-Big Ten Third Team. This is his first year in the Big Ten after transferring from Belmont, which plays in the Missouri Valley Conference. Gillespie also earned NABC All-District First Team honors.
- Julian Reese earned honorable mention accolades from both coaches and media. This was his third time receiving the honor. Reese also garnered NABC All-District First Team honors.
- Selton Miguel was chosen as the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree for Maryland.
- Kevin Willard was named the NABC East District Co-Coach of the Year, his seventh Coach of the Year honor.
Numbers And Nuggets
- 4: Gillespie has the fourth most 3-pointers in a single season in program history.
- 4: Maryland is the No. 4 seed, the highest seeding for Maryland in the NCAA Tournament since also being a four seed in 2015.
- 4: Maryland is one of four major conference programs with all five starters scoring double figures while starting at least 50 percent of the team's games.
- 5: Reese is one of five players in program history to record over 1,400 points and 900 career rebounds.
- 5: Miguel became one of five players in program history to shoot 3-of-3 or better from three in an NCAA Tournament game.
- 10: The Terps are ranked No. 10 in the NET Rankings.
- 11: The Terps are ranked No. 11 in the AP Poll.
- 14: Maryland's 14-point lead at the break was its largest halftime lead in the NCAA Tournament since leading Xavier by 17 in 2003.
- 15: Queen notched his 15th career double-double.
- 17: Maryland had its 17th 40+ point first half.
- 26: Willard set a season-best for coaching wins in a season, as his previous best was 25-9 with Seton Hall in 2015-16.
- 29: Queen and Reese have combined for 29 total double-doubles this season, the most of any combination in the nation.
- 32: The 32-point victory was Maryland's largest in an NCAA Tournament game in program history.
- 34: The Terps have 34 10-0 or better runs this year.
- 64: Willard won his 64th game this season, the most for any Maryland coach in the first three years of a Terrapin head coaching career.
- 229: Three-pointers by Gillespie, Miguel and Rice - the most combined threes in a single season by a trio of Terps.
- 276: The Terps have 276 3-pointers made this season, which is the most for a single season in program history.
- 467: The Terps have now made a 3-pointer in 467 consecutive games.
- 1,597: Miguel leads the Terps with 1,597 career points in his five-year career.
Up Next
- Maryland will No. 12 seed Colorado State in the second round on Sunday, March 23. The game time and streaming platform will be announced. It will be broadcast on the Maryland Sports Radio Network.
