The Terps made the second most 3-pointers in a single game in program history.
After not having played since Dec. 8, Maryland men’s basketball had to shake off some early rust.
But the Terps turned on the jets after the first 10 minutes, seizing a lead they didn’t relinquish for the remainder of the contest. Selton Miguel led the way for Maryland with 24 points, while Rodney Rice added 16 of his own en route to a 111-57 win over Saint Francis (PA).
Here are three takeaways from the contest.
A slow, rusty start for the Terps
Maryland trailed Saint Francis, 21-17, halfway through the first period of action. It was unlike the Terps’ usual nature, having jumped out to a quick lead against conference foe Ohio State, and did not struggle early against any other nonconference opponents.
But against the Red Flash, the Terps needed some time to adjust after not having played in nine days.
Maryland started its night off 0-of-3 from beyond the arc, and were not attacking as consistently and aggressively as it normally does. Meanwhile, Saint Francis pounced on its early opportunities, making a living from the midrange area.
Miguel kept the Terps in it early, pacing the team’s scoring with two quick layups. Maryland also put an emphasis on getting Julian Reese — who was quiet in the team’s loss to Purdue — the ball in the post area early. But despite making two early layups, he missed two free throws, making it harder for the Terps to pull away.
Even a 7-0 Maryland run around the 11-minute mark of the first half wasn’t enough to officially lose the Red Flash, as Saint Francis’ subsequent 3-pointer cut the Terps’ lead back to just one. That was the start of a Red Flash 8-0 run that was ultimately stymied by a Derik Queen bucket.
An onslaught of scoring to end the first half
After trailing 21-17 at the 10:32 mark of the first half, Maryland embarked on a 38-8 run to end the period.
It began with an extremely quick 15-2 run for the Terps, who suddenly began shooting the ball at a high clip from both around the cup and from distance. Rice, who had been quiet through the game’s first 10 minutes, quickly made two layups — including an and-1 — and a 3-pointer.
Miguel also continued his stellar night, making two more 3-point jumpers including one roughly five feet behind the line. But what was most impressive about the Terps’ sudden scoring splurge was the pace with which it played. Maryland capitalized on a number of fast-break opportunities, leading to both quick buckets and mismatches for Reese and Queen.
On the offensive side for Saint Francis, the issue was as simple as missing shots. At one point during Maryland’s massive run, the Red Flash failed to score for nearly three minutes.
The Terps scored 15 points off turnovers in the first half, compared to Saint Francis’ two. In addition, Maryland had a sizable 12-2 advantage in fast-break points over the first 20 minutes.
Maryland’s 3-point shooting was suffocating
Heading into the season, head coach Kevin Willard was confident in his team’s improvement from beyond the arc compared to 2023. And while the first portion of Maryland’s early-season slate showed glimpses of that sentiment ringing true, on Tuesday, it officially materialized.
Against Saint Francis, the Terps cashed in a season-high 15 3-pointers.
Things weren’t exactly pretty early, though, as the Terps missed their first three 3-pointers. But that didn’t change the team’s mindset.
Jay Young got Maryland’s day started from deep nearly eight minutes into the game, which gave the Terps a two-point lead. But over the next 12 minutes, Maryland heated up, potting seven 3-pointers, which helped it pull away from the reeling Red Flash.
Aside from Miguel’s hot night from beyond the arc, Maryland’s starting guards — Rice and Ja’Kobi Gillespie — also made 3-pointers to close the first half, emphasizing the team’s continued impressive backcourt play.
The Terps didn’t slow down from downtown in the second half. They made seven more shots from beyond the arc, including one from freshman guard Malachi Palmer. Six different Maryland players connected from deep.