The Maryland Terrapins played their most complete offensive game of the season while whipping the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, 92-66 at an ecstatic Xfinity Center.
The Terps (11-1) were led by their star guard Melo Trimble who led the way with his best shooting night of the season.
The feisty Gamecocks stayed with the Terps but a Trimble three-pointer with 6:23 to go in the first half gave the Terrapins a 28-20 lead and he hit another one with 10 seconds to go in the half giving his team a 42-29 lead at the break.
Trimble led the way with a game-high 23 points. He was 6 for 7 from the field including 4 of 5 from three-point range while making all seven of his free throws. He missed one shot all night.
It was his assist on a layup by Maryland’s Ivan Bender that made the score 51-31 with 17:34 to go. The Gamecocks would rally but the Terps, challenged by coach Mark Turgeon to start finishing games, had an answer.
Jacksonville State closed the gap to 57-47 with 12:21 to go but the Terps responded with a 13-4 run capped by a three-pointer from Dion Wiley making the score 70-51 with 9:01 to go and the rout was on.
The Terps had a great shooting night. They were 27 of 47 from the field shooting 57 percent from the floor including hitting 11 of 17 three-pointers.
They also made 27 of 35 free throws had 16 assists and seven steals.
Terp’s center Michal Cekovsky was 6 for 8 from the field for 15 points and he also grabbed four rebounds. Wiley came off the bench and scored 13 points, collected three rebounds had two assists one block and one steal.
Point guard Anthony Cowan added 12 points and five assists. Freshman Justin Jackson chipped in with 12 points and a team-high six rebounds. Bender finished with 10 points off the bench and three rebounds.
Maryland was very efficient on offense and finished with six players in double figures.
Jacksonville State matched the Terps in the first half and the score was 23-20, Maryland with 7:59 to go. Maryland then went on a 10-0 run to make the score 33-20 with 5:18 to go on a Cekovsky jumper and increased the lead to 42-29 at the break.
Jacksonville State was led by Jacara Cross who scored 10 points and collected three rebounds. Norbertas Giga added nine points and a team-high five rebounds in a losing effort for the (5-6) Gamecocks.
