COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) -- If the Maryland Terrapins had any
sleeves to roll up, they would have done so.
Maryland (No. 14 ESPN/USA Today, No. 12 AP) decided to get physical against Wake
Forest (No. 8, No. 10) on Wednesday night, and the result was a surprisingly easy
81-71 victory.
Juan Dixon scored 30 points and Lonny Baxter had 18 points and
15 rebounds, leading the Terrapins to their first win in four tries
this season against a ranked team.
"I'm really proud of the way we went to war," Maryland coach
Gary Williams said. "That was a game we needed, because it proved
we can play with a physical team."
Terence Morris scored 20 points for the Terrapins (13-4, 4-1
Atlantic Coast Conference), who recorded their first home win
against a Top 25 team since 1998, against North Carolina.
"We had to beat a team that was ranked. Might as well do it
tonight," Williams said.
Josh Howard scored a career-high 24 points and Darius Songaila
had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Demon Deacons (13-3, 2-3),
who have lost three of four after a 12-0 start.
Unlike their other two losses -- by one point at North Carolina
and in overtime at Georgia Tech -- this one wasn't close.
Craig Dawson, Wake Forest's leading scorer, was held scoreless
and starting guard Robert O'Kelley, who scored his 1,700th career
point last weekend, had only six points on 3-for-11 shooting.
The game featured 49 fouls, including four technicals -- three
against the Demon Deacons.
"It was a difficult game, with a lot of emotion on both
sides," Wake Forest coach Dave Odom said. "Obviously, our team
didn't handle the emotion. Actually, we failed miserably."
The Demon Deacons also failed in their effort to stop Dixon,
Baxter and Morris.
"We came in knowing those were the three players we had to deal
with defensively. Obviously we didn't do a good job on any of those
guys," Odom said.
"Our so called 'Big Three' really played well in a big game. It
was good to see," Williams said.
Morris scored five points and Dixon twice went the distance
after a steal during a 12-0 spree that put Maryland up 31-21 late
in the first half. After Morris hit a follow shot and Dixon scored
from the corner immediately after halftime, Wake Forest never got
closer than seven points.
Maryland led 58-45 with 13:29 left and 67-55 with eight minutes
remaining. It was 71-64 before Morris scored on an alley-oop off a
fine pass from Steve Blake with 4:49 remaining, effectively ending
Wake Forest's slim hopes of a comeback.
For the 17th time in as many games, Maryland led at halftime.
Holding O'Kelley scoreless on 0-for-5 shooting and getting 13
points from Dixon, Maryland built a 41-33 lead.
After Wake Forest opened the game with a 6-0 run, the Terrapins
responded with 10 straight points. Minutes later, as the game
became more physical, Odom received a technical foul.
Then, during an 8-0 run by Wake Forest, Williams was slapped
with a technical. But shortly after that the Terrapins went on
their pivotal 12-0 run.
"We came out playing with passion and a lot of emotion and got
the win," Baxter said. "We were really flying and attacking."
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ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard
Wake Forest Clubhouse
Maryland Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Maryland's Juan Dixon with the steal and the jam for two of his 30 points.
avi: 735 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Juan Dixon with the spin move and he lays it in with the left hand.
avi: 889 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Terence Morris goes baseline and skies for the two-handed alley-oop.
avi: 1152 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Lonny Baxter gets the basket to fall en route to the 3-point play.
avi: 525 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Josh Shoemaker hits the baby hook over the Maryland defense.
avi: 499 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Josh Howard snares the rebound and puts it back for the hoop and the harm.
avi: 651 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
The College Hoops 2Night crew looks at Maryland's performance through the Bilas-Strator.
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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