Michigan
Maryland
Maryland Defeats Michigan in BB&T Classic Opener
12/2/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Despite a career performance by freshman Bernard Robinson Jr. (Washington, D.C./New Hampton Prep [N.H.]), the University of Michigan men's basketball dropped its opening game in the BB&T Classic Saturday (Dec. 2) to Maryland (No. 13 AP, No. 14 ESPN/USA Today), 82-51, at the MCI Center.
Robinson Jr. returned to his hometown and did not disappoint the 30 family members in the crowd as he finished the game 8-of-14 for a career-high 20 points. He also grabbed a new career-high eight rebounds as well. Sophomore LaVell Blanchard (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS) finished with eight points and nine rebounds and junior Chris Young (Plymouth, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central HS) added eight points and six rebounds.
The first half started out with Maryland controlling the tip and taking it immediately down into the low post to Lonny Baxter, who made an inside layup and was fouled by freshman Josh Moore (Newark, N.J./St. Thomas More Prep [Conn.]). Baxter converted on the free throw to give the Terrapins an early 3-0 lead. The Wolverines would answer right with a Robinson Jr. jumper followed by a LaVell Blanchard lay-in, putting the Maize and Blue up 4-3. But that would prove to be the only Wolverine lead for the rest of the game.
The Terrapins followed those two Michigan baskets with more down-low pressure as Baxter scored seven of the first 12 Terrapin points as they began to build a lead. Robinson Jr. continued to use the inside-outside game to keep the Wolverines close, but Maryland would continue to press, forcing the Wolverines into seven turnovers in the first seven minutes of play.
Freshman Maurice Searight (Orchard Lake, Mich./St. Mary's HS) provided a small lift with a steal and swing pass for a Gavin Groninger (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield HS) triple. But again, the Terrapins marched right down the floor with guard Steve Blake providing the dribble penetration and inside dishes to the post players as they built a 30-18 lead with 6:14 remaining.
This flow would continue for the remainder of the half as the Wolverines and Terrapins went back and forth underneath the basket. But again it was Maryland taking advantage of Wolverine mistakes. Every time the Wolverines chipped into the lead, a missed shot or a turnover would lead to a Terrapin basket, helping them end the half on an 11-0 run and giving them a 45-23 halftime lead.
The trend would continue in the second half as the Wolverines' first possession led to a turnover and a Baxter lay-in from a Blake pass. The Wolverines would try to work the post with Young and Josh Asselin (Caro, Mich./Caro HS) getting some inside looks, but the Terrapins would still hold the advantage as their shooting and inside presence countered any Maize and Blue attack. Maryland then turned up the pressure again, causing 14 of the Wolverines 24 turnovers in the second half. Slowly, Maryland continued to mount a lead as they would have a 29-point advantage, 66-37, with 10:29 to go.
The Wolverines chiseled into the Terrapin lead after a pair of layups by Robinson Jr. and jumper by Blanchard. Turnovers continued to be the Wolverines' downfall as Maryland went on a 11-2 run in the final five minutes to close out the game with the 82-51 victory.
The Wolverines will play in the consolation game Sunday (Dec. 3) against St. John's (No. 19 AP, No. 21 ESPN/USA Today), which lost 85-75 to George Washington. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.
N O T E S
-- Freshman Bernard Robinson Jr. finished the game with a career highs of 20 points and eight rebounds. His previous bests were 19 points at Oakland (Nov. 17) and seven rebounds against Wake Forest (Nov. 28) and Wagner (Nov. 25). He also had a career-high eight field goals, bettering his six against Wake Forest.
-- Freshman Avery Queen has collected a steal in five consecutive games and leads the team with eight on the year.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
