Julian Reese led the way for the Terps with a game-high 21 points.
Maryland men’s basketball got off to a 15-0 against Florida A&M and never let up, riding it to an 84-53 victory Monday night at Xfinity Center.
Aggressive defense and tempo on offense helped the Terps jump out early and stay ahead. They now head into their Friday matchup against No. 15 Marquette with a 3-0 record.
Here’s three takeaways from Maryland’s win.
Terps continue to show dynamic backcourt play
The transfer trio of Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Selton Miguel and Rodney Rice continues to provide Maryland with a variety of options on offense. All three scored double-digit points and displayed the ability to work cohesively and create their own shots.
Miguel has played through an ankle injury this season, according to head coach Kevin Willard, and struggled in his first two contests. But he finally broke through against Florida A&M, having by far his best performance of the season. Miguel finished 5 for 9 from the field — including 2-of-5 from deep — for a season-high 14 points, also contributing two assists and two rebounds.
Gillespie was a valuable component on both sides of the court. On defense, he was a big part of Maryland’s double-team heavy scheme, notching three steals. He finished 5-of-11 shooting for 12 points, and while he was just 2 for 7 from 3-point range, the triples he did make were impressive ones.
Rice took a step back from his 28-point night against Mount St. Marys, but was still an efficient shot creator against the Rattlers. He played just 15 minutes and scored 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting.
The Terps shot just 8-of-29 from 3-point range, and the guard trio was a big reason for that. But they showed more than enough positives to make up for it.
Defensive pressure had its ups and downs
Maryland utilized a lot more defensive pressure against the Rattlers than it has the past two games. That came in the form of the full-court press and frequent defensive traps and double-teams.
The press paid early dividends, as Florida A&M was forced into two 10-second violations less than three minutes into the game. But it adjusted quickly and took advantage of Maryland’s strategy, pushing the floor on an early 12-2 run.
The Terps’ aggressive defense led to Florida A&M turning the ball over a season-high 22 times, and Maryland scored 31 points off those opportunities. But it also led to a lot of open looks for the Rattlers — who failed to take advantage for most of the game, shooting a measly 6 for 21 from beyond the arc.
“My goal with this team was to be ready for Big Ten play with [the press],” Willard said. “We press so much different on the road than we do at home. At home, it’s been pretty good. But we’re going to face something different [against tougher competition].”
Julian Reese had his best game so far this season
Reese was far from a liability in Maryland’s first two contests, but he wasn’t a major factor either. Against the Rattlers, he looked like the player Terps fans have become accustomed to seeing.
He was physical and crafty at the glass, finding success creating space and dominating at the rim. But he also was a force cleaning up his teammates’ misses — Reese scored second-chance points on all of his four offensive rebounds.
In 20 minutes, he was an efficient 8 for 12 for a game-high 21 points — his highest mark since Dec. 6, 2023 against Minnesota — and a game-high nine rebounds, along with a block.
But perhaps his most impressive mark was shooting 5-of-5 from the free-throw line, a welcome sight for a player who struggled from the line frequently across the last two seasons. The hitch in his form appears to be fixed, and his stroke is much purer than it was a year ago.
“It was 70% a mind thing,” Reese said. “Early mornings, just making sure the routine was the routine, staying with my same shot.”