Nov. 26, 2004

Box Score

By HOWARD ULMAN
AP Sports Writer

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) - John Gilchrist had 16 points, 10 rebounds and led a scrappy defense that helped No. 13 Maryland run past No. 25 Memphis 84-61 on Friday night.

Nik Caner-Medley added 15 points for Maryland (3-0), which led 37-29 at halftime then scored the first seven points of the second half before taking a 28-point lead with 10 minutes to go. Most of the Terrapins' baskets in that stretch came on layups and fastbreaks - with many set up by steals.

Rodney Carney (4-2) scored 23 points and Sean Banks had 12 for Memphis.

Gilchrist, who led the Terrapins last season in points, assists and steals, played an impressive all-around game. He had seven assists and five steals. Memphis, as a team, totaled just five assists and three steals.

With the score tied for the fourth time at 16-16 with 11:22 left in the first half, the Terrapins took control by scoring the next nine points. That began a 15-2 run that gave them a 31-18 lead with 6:09 left in the half. Gilchrist scored six of the 15 points, including a dunk after his steal.

D.J. Strawberry also dunked off his own steal, making it 25-16, before Anthony Rice's layup broke the 9-0 spurt.

Maryland outshot Memphis in the half, 46 percent to 30 percent.

And it got worse in the second half. The Terrapins finished 33for-67 shots (49 percent), while the Tigers were 18-for-62 (29 percent) and committed 21 turnovers that led to 32 points.

Any comeback hopes for the Tigers ended early in the second half. Travis Garrison made a free throw and a layup, Caner-Medley got a layup off a steal and McCray followed with another layup for a 44-29 lead.

It was 53-39 before Maryland pulled away again with a 16-2 surge. Strawberry started it with a layup and McCray scored three of the last four baskets for the 69-41 advantage. The lead increased to 32 points at 79-47 before Memphis cut into it in the last six minutes as Maryland coach Gary Williams cleared his bench.