Notebook: Men's basketball has been road warrior

When the Terrapin men's basketball team won its first and only national championship in 2002, it reeled off road wins in the ACC almost as easily and regularly as it did within the comforting confines of Cole Field House.

This year's conference isn't as deep or talented as in years past, according to pundits nationwide, but the Terps are still making unlikely history. They have already beaten three ACC teams — Georgia Tech, Virginia and Wake Forest — on the road by double digits so far this season.

Only six teams in program history have ever accomplished that feat, the last coming nine years ago. The Terps have as many of those wins now as the rest of the ACC combined.

"We're just playing together," forward Dino Gregory said. "We're helping each other on screens, talking more. ... Everyone's playing their hearts out."

The Terps' only loss away from home in the ACC this season came Jan. 9 at then-No. 1 Duke, a loss they can avenge tomorrow in College Park. Since that defeat, the Terps (14-7, 4-3 ACC) have had no problem weathering the travel and the crowds that come with road trips.

Coach Gary Williams said after Sunday's 74-63 win that little but the venue changes in preparing for life on the road.

"We have always stressed to play like you play at home," Williams said. "Some teams I think back off a little bit, might not press if they are a pressing team. ... We just try to play the way we know how to play."

MOSLEY'S OUTBURST

Guard Sean Mosley contends he can make an impact on the game without making a dent in the scoreboard. Whether he's diving for loose balls, playing pressure defense or working for rebounds, Mosley does much of the team's dirty work.

Still, his shooting struggles this season haven't gone unnoticed, especially with the revolving door at the guard position since the start of conference play. Sunday, though, Mosley broke out of a scoring funk to post 16 points, his most since the season opener against Seattle on Nov. 8.

Before Sunday's outburst, he hadn't even eclipsed double figures in 2011 and had taken just seven shots in the previous two games combined.

"We all try to overthink things sometimes," Williams said. "Sean's a great player when he's flying around. If you miss a shot and you're flying around, you don't think about it. Tonight he was just loose and relaxed and we needed him."

Against the Yellow Jackets, Mosley scored six of the team's first 14 points and hit the Terps' only shot outside the painted area.

"It felt great, getting back in rhythm and having more confidence in myself," Mosley said. "Even if I'm not scoring the basketball, I do other things to help contribute to a win."

STARTING ANEW

Against Virginia last Thursday night, forward Jordan Williams said he never quite felt himself. Unable to find a groove against a collapsing Cavalier defense, he finished with a season low in points (four) and rebounds (six), snapping his record-breaking 13-game double-double streak.

The next time on the court, though, Williams reverted to his usual form, posting 21 points and 15 rebounds against Georgia Tech on Sunday night.

For Gary Williams, the end of the streak was a good thing.

"It's going to end sometime," Gary Williams said after the Virginia game. "For it to end on a win, he can forget about it. I thought tonight he was thinking about it. Now he can forget about it and start another streak."

His double-double against the Yellow Jackets marked his 18th of the season. With 10 games remaining in the regular season and at least one postseason game guaranteed, he still has a chance to eclipse former Terp great Len Elmore's program record of 22 in a season this year.

"It was important for us to emphasize getting the ball inside," Jordan Williams said, "and letting me get to work."

ceckard@umdbk.com