Dec. 11, 1999
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) – It was merely another notch in a streak that begana decade ago. Yet this victory was particularly sweet for the MarylandTerrapins.
Terence Morris scored 22 points and No. 21 Maryland never trailed indefeating No. 23 Kentucky 72-66 on Saturday night, the Terrapins’ 69thconsecutive non-conference home victory.
Steve Blake scored 16 points for the Terrapins (8-2), whose 69-game run isthe longest of its kind in the nation. This was the first time that Marylandplayed a ranked team during the streak, and the fact that it came against astoried program made the win even more special.
“That was great to win against a team like Kentucky,” Maryland coach GaryWilliams said. “When you say Kentucky – they have it on the press guide -they’re the team of the century, and they’re right. They’ve won more games andnational championships than anyone. It’s a big thrill for us to get a winagainst that program and against a coach like Tubby Smith.”
Jamaal Magloire had 12 points and 16 rebounds for the Wildcats (4-4), whohave lost four of five since beating Maryland 61-58 last month in thesemifinals of the Preseason NIT. Kentucky was 5-0 against the Terrapins since1957.
“Our kids hung in there, but this is a tough place to play, obviously,”Smith said.
Maryland led 51-46 before Blake and Morris hit 3-pointers in an 8-2 spurtthat made it 59-48 with 6:44 remaining. The Wildcats closed to 61-57 on abasket by Tayshaun Prince with 4:13 left, but Kentucky didn’t score again untilPrince made two free throws with 1:48 to go to make it 65-59.
Two straight Kentucky baskets cut the gap to two. Blake then scored on abreakaway and later made a free throw for a five-point cushion with 37 secondsleft.
“This was a huge win,” Blake said. “That’s what I came to college for -to play in big games like this.”
Morris was 8-for-11 from the floor and Juan Dixon, despite missing 12 of 17shots, scored 15 for the Terrapins. It was the 200th victory at Maryland forWilliams, who was 0-3 lifetime against Kentucky.
Saul Smith had 15 points the Wildcats, who shot 39 percent from the floor.
“Our team never said die, we never gave up,” Tubby Smith said. “Butthat’s not good enough. We shouldn’t be putting ourselves in that kind ofpredicament.”
The Terrapins went up 37-27 early in the second half before Saul Smith hit a3-pointer to spark a 7-0 Kentucky run. Dixon then scored in the lane and Morrismade a 3-pointer, but five straight points by Magloire made it 42-39.
The Wildcats couldn’t further cut into the deficit.
“We never could put together an extended run,” Tubby Smith said. “That’sbeen our problem all year.”
Morris had 12 points and the Terrapins held Kentucky to 9-for-28 shooting intaking a 34-27 halftime lead.
Morris scored nine points, including a follow-dunk and a 3-pointer, asMaryland thrilled the sellout crowd by bolting to a 16-7 lead. The Wildcatsmissed 11 of their first 15 shots until successive 3-pointers by Smith cut thegap to 20-18.
It was 28-25 before the Terrapins sandwiched a three-point play by Morrisand a 3-pointer by Blake around a basket by Keith Bogans to boost the margin toseven.
“We came back, and that says a lot about our character,” Saul Smith said.”But you’ve got to hand it to Terence Morris. He’s a lottery-pick, hands down.The guy just doesn’t miss.”
