Maryland men’s basketball routs Grand Canyon, 81-49, to advance
SEATTLE — Maryland men’s basketball’s loftiest perch in a decade also invited a precipitous fall.
Fortunately for the Terps, they ensured such a calamity would not occur. The No. 4 seed lived up to its billing and clobbered No. 13 seed Grand Canyon, 81-49, on Friday afternoon before an announced 17,024 in an NCAA Tournament first-round game at Climate Pledge Arena.
Senior power forward Julian Reese scored a team-high 18 points and was one rebound shy of his 15th double-double of the season with two blocks and two steals, and junior point guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie amassed 16 points, three assists, three rebounds and two steals. Graduate student small forward Selton Miguel scored 13 points, and freshman center Derik Queen notched his 15th double-double of the season on 12 points and 15 rebounds and added three assists and two blocks to send Maryland (26-8) to the second round for the second time in the past three years.
The Terps will meet No. 12 seed Colorado State on Sunday at a time to be announced after the Rams upended No. 5 seed Memphis, 78-70, earlier in the day.
With the victory, the Terps avoided what would have been their earliest exit from the NCAA postseason since 2017, when that squad was the No. 6 seed in the West Region and lost, 76-65, to No. 11 seed Xavier in the first round. In an opening weekend group consisting of the Antelopes (26-8), Memphis (29-6) and Colorado State (26-9), they appear primed for their first run to the Sweet 16 since 2016 — and perhaps even beyond.
After an 81-80 loss to Michigan in a Big Ten Tournament semifinal on Saturday, Maryland improved to 7-1 after losses this season. The team has won those seven games by an average of 27.3 points.
The Terps triumphed despite off-court turmoil in the wake of coach Kevin Willard’s revelation Thursday that athletic director Damon Evans was “probably going to SMU” to fill the same role there after Rick Hart, who shepherded the school’s move from the American Athletic Conference to the Atlantic Coast Conference last summer, opted to leave at the end of the year.
Willard, who has been rumored to be a candidate for the head coaching vacancy at Villanova, also questioned Maryland’s name, image and likeness funds compared to those of other Big Ten counterparts and said he needs “to see fundamental changes done.” But that news did not affect the players.
The Terps were offensively balanced in both halves. They shot 51.5% (17 of 33) in the first half, including 44.4% (4 of 9) from 3-point range, and 50% (14 of 28) in the second half, including 42.9% (3 of 7) from long distance.
Maryland also turned up the heat defensively. The Antelopes converted only 28.6% (16 of 56) of their attempts, including 21.7% (5 of 23) from deep, and were mired in droughts of 3:30 and 3:02 in the first half and 4:17 and 3:59 in the second.
With 3:08 remaining in the game, Willard pulled the last of his starters and had his reserves on the floor.
Grand Canyon graduate student shooting guard Tyon Grant-Foster scored a game-best 23 points and finished with four points and three assists, but that effort wasn’t enough to prevent four-time Western Athletic Conference Tournament champion and NCAA postseason qualifier from getting bounced in the first round for the third time in the past four years. Grand Canyon (27-7) had been hoping to advance to the second round for the second year in a row.
After falling behind 7-2 less than six minutes into the game, the Terps scored nine unanswered points fueled by Reese’s four points to assume an 11-7 lead midway through the first half. The two sides then exchanged buckets before Maryland scored the game’s next 11 points and 18 of the next 19 for a 33-13 advantage that was its largest of the opening frame.
Grand Canyon narrowed the deficit to 42-28 at halftime thanks to Grant-Foster, who scored 12 of the team’s final 15 points of the first half, including a buzzer-beating 3. The two-time All-WAC first-team selection had a game-high 16 points in the period.
-
Grand Canyon men blown out by Maryland in NCAA Tournament's first round
No. 13 Grand Canyon couldn't hang with the size of No. 4 Maryland in Friday's March Madness game.Yahoo Sports - 9h -
Maryland destroys Illinois, 88-65, to reach Big Ten Tournament semifinals
INDIANAPOLIS — That Big Ten Tournament semifinal drought for Maryland men’s basketball is no more. Brandishing their highest seeding in the league tournament since their debut in 2015, the No. 2 ...Yahoo Sports - Mar. 15 -
Julian Reese and Maryland blow out Grand Canyon 81-49 in March Madness
Fourth-seeded Maryland pounded No. 13 seed Grand Canyon on Friday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.Yahoo Sports - 5h -
Maryland coach Kevin Willard gripes at reporters' questions following Terps' March Madness win
Maryland coach Kevin Willard bristled at reporters’ questions even as his players celebrated an 81-49 win over Grand Canyon in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday. Willard openly ...Yahoo Sports - 9h -
Jimmies men's hockey beats Grand Canyon 3-2 in OT at national tourney
Mar. 15—MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. — The No. 5-seeded University of Jamestown men's hockey team did just enough to get a 3-2 overtime win over No. 12-seeded Grand Canyon University in the first round of ...Yahoo Sports - 6d -
Maryland, men’s basketball coach Kevin Willard nearing contract extension
Maryland men’s basketball coach Kevin Willard and the university are nearing a contract extension, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. Details of the deal are not immediately ...Yahoo Sports - 5d -
Maryland vs. Grand Canyon odds, March Madness predictions: 2025 NCAA Tournament picks from proven model
SportsLine's model revealed its college basketball predictions for Grand Canyon Antelopes vs. Maryland Terrapins on Friday in the first round of the 2025 NCAA TournamentCBS Sports - 14h -
Jimmies men's hockey takes on Grand Canyon in ACHA tourney opener
Mar. 15—MARYLAND, HEIGHTS, Mo. — The No. 5-seed University of Jamestown men's hockey team heads to the 2025 ACHA National Championships hoping to win their first national championship in program ...Yahoo Sports - 6d -
NCAA Tournament: Everything you need to know about Maryland men’s basketball
The Maryland men’s basketball team sat shoulder-to-shoulder in front of a TV on Sunday night to watch the NCAA’s selection show announce their postseason fate. Donning red long-sleeve shirts that ...Yahoo Sports - 4d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Could Boston Celtics point guard Derrick White finish his NBA career a Hall of Famer?
What else would he need to do to make it?Yahoo Sports - 26m -
“I felt that I could improve” – Cucurella reveals aspect of his game he’s “very happy” to have improved
Marc Cucurella is happy he’s added goals to his game as he felt that’s one of the main things he needed to improve on.Cucurella is having a brilliant season for the Blues and has established himse...Yahoo Sports - 28m -
Piastri takes pole position at Chinese GP ahead of Russell, Hamilton fifth
Oscar Piastri claimed pole position for Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix as Mercedes’ George Russell brilliantly managed to insert himself between the two McLarens in Shanghai.Yahoo Sports - 30m -
NFL draft prospect ranks Commanders' Terry McLaurin as a top 3 wide receiver
One NFL draft prospect says Commanders WR Terry McLaurin is one of the league's three best wide receivers.Yahoo Sports - 37m -
Bid prepared: Man United looking to get ahead of Tottenham in race for £50m transfer
Manchester United are reportedly ready to spend £50million on the potential transfer of Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite this summer.According to a report from Fichajes, the Red Devils are ...Yahoo Sports - 40m
More in Sports
-
Could Boston Celtics point guard Derrick White finish his NBA career a Hall of Famer?
What else would he need to do to make it?Yahoo Sports - 26m -
“I felt that I could improve” – Cucurella reveals aspect of his game he’s “very happy” to have improved
Marc Cucurella is happy he’s added goals to his game as he felt that’s one of the main things he needed to improve on.Cucurella is having a brilliant season for the Blues and has established himse...Yahoo Sports - 28m -
Piastri takes pole position at Chinese GP ahead of Russell, Hamilton fifth
Oscar Piastri claimed pole position for Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix as Mercedes’ George Russell brilliantly managed to insert himself between the two McLarens in Shanghai.Yahoo Sports - 30m -
NFL draft prospect ranks Commanders' Terry McLaurin as a top 3 wide receiver
One NFL draft prospect says Commanders WR Terry McLaurin is one of the league's three best wide receivers.Yahoo Sports - 37m -
Bid prepared: Man United looking to get ahead of Tottenham in race for £50m transfer
Manchester United are reportedly ready to spend £50million on the potential transfer of Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite this summer.According to a report from Fichajes, the Red Devils are ...Yahoo Sports - 40m