Terps cruise to third consecutive victory

The Terrapin men's basketball team can now turn its focus to Thanksgiving week in Hawaii.

Forward Landon Milbourne scored a career-high 24 points and Sean Mosley recorded his first career double-double as the No. 25 Terps thumped New Hampshire, 82-55, at Comcast Center Friday in their final tune-up before facing their first major nonconference tests at the Maui Invitational.

The Terps, who had their bags packed and ready to take to a hotel Friday night in preparation for an early flight Saturday morning, erased any thoughts they'd have trouble getting up for their America East foe. They scored the game's first nine points and flustered the Wildcat offense, forcing five turnovers on the game's first seven possessions.

Milbourne scored nine of the team's first 16 points, giving New Hampshire (1-1) a clear matchup problem with his inside and outside scoring that they never solved.

The Terps (3-0) cruised into halftime with an 18-point lead behind 13 first half points from Milbourne and 11 from Hayes, who finished with 15 points. They used a 16-2 second half run to stretch the lead to 35, culminating with a Mosley lay-up with 10:45 remaining.

The Terps struggled in the closing minutes, hitting just four field goals and allowing five New Hampshire three-pointers after taking their biggest lead. They still eased to their third blowout win in as many games.

Mosley scored 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting, his third straight hot shooting performance to start the season. The sophomore added 10 assists, three steals and several hustle plays on the defensive end that delighted the home crowd.

Guard Greivis Vasquez got into foul trouble and still hasn't gotten on track this season, scoring in single digits for the third straight game. He had eight points and a team-high seven rebounds.

But it didn't matter as the Terps continued to get balanced scoring and play suffocating defense.

TERP NOTE: Coach Gary Williams said forward Jin Soo Choi, who dressed but didn't play, was available if the Terps got into foul trouble. The sophomore has not played since injuring his right ankle in the season opener against Charleston Southern last Friday. Williams also said center Steve Goins, who missed the game because of a class attendance issue, will be available in Maui. The 6-foot-10 sophomore has yet to dress for a game this season because of a lingering knee injury.

edetweilerdbk@gmail.com