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Updated: Sunday, December 8, 2002 5:10 PM EST
NCAA BASKETBALL RECAP
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(8) Maryland 93, Geo Washington 82
MARYLAND TERRAPINS
Maryland Terrapins
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GEORGE WASHINGTON COLONIALS
George Washington Colonials
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WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Steve Blake and Drew Nicholas each scored 27 points as eighth-ranked Maryland snapped a two-game slide with a 93-82 victory over George Washington in the consolation game of the BB&T Classic.

It was a career high for Blake, who on Saturday made only 5-of-17 shots and was held to 15 points in a 69-57 loss to Notre Dame. He was unstoppable against George Washington, making 10-of-12 shots, including 5-of-7 from 3-point range.

"We were struggling a little bit, offensively and defensively," said Blake, whose club trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half. "We (himself and Nicholas) know we have to step up and hit shots to get the team going."

Nicholas scored 20 points in the first half, helping Maryland (4-2) take a 48-43 lead. The Terrapins wore down the Colonials (3-3) in the second half, leading by as many as 21 points with just under 10 minutes left.

"I came in and made shots," said Nicholas, who finished 9-of-18 from the field. "I was shooting the ball pretty well, so I kept it going."

Maryland shot a sizzling 71 percent (12-of-17) from 3-point range and finished at 55 percent (33-of-60) overall.

"We still have a lot of things to work on," Maryland coach Gary Williams said. "The killer instinct - I think we relaxed with about six minutes left, thinking we had the game won. You have to play for 40 minutes."

Tahj Holden scored 12 points and Travis Garrison added 10 off the bench for the Terrapins, who held George Washington to 41 percent (26-of-63).

Chris Monroe scored 19 points and Omar Williams added 17 for the Colonials, who allowed an average of 96.5 points in their two tournament games. They suffered a 100-92 loss to No. 2 Texas on Saturday.

"Fatigue was a factor to some degree," George Washington coach Karl Hobbs said. "Maryland played like a team that was committed to winning today."

Maryland leads the all-time series against George Washington, 35-29, and has won four of six meetings with the Colonials in the BB&T Classic.

George Washington dropped to 0-3 against ranked opponents this season, having also lost to Connecticut.

The Colonials used an 8-0 spurt to open a 29-17 lead with 11:10 to play. Maryland answered with a 14-2 run, tying the contest at 31-31 on Blake's layup with 7:28 left in the half.

The Terrapins took the lead for good, 38-37, on Blake's layup with 4:01 to play in the first half.

"We had to dig deep pride-wise and I was really proud of the players the way they got ready to play," Williams said. "I was really worried because it's a consolation game and Maryland is not supposed to be in a consolation game."

Maryland quickly took control after the intermission, opening a 60-49 advantage on Garrison's two foul shots with 16:16 left.

"We didn't want to lose three in a row," Nicholas said. "I felt we answered the challenge and did the things we need to win the basketball game."

George Washington got no closer than 62-54 on Monroe's 3-pointer with 15:20 to play. The Terrapins turned up their defense, allowing just five points over the next seven minutes, and opened their biggest lead at 80-59 on Garrison's jumper with 9:45 remaining.

"For stretches, we played well today," Nicholas added. "For 10 minutes in the first half, we played as well as we have all season."


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