COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Freshman Jared Nickens had his first game in double figures with 13 points and Maryland won its third straight matchup to open the season with a 66-50 victory over Fordham on Thursday night.
Jake Layman added 12 points for the Terrapins (3-0).
Mandell Thomas and Ryan Rhoomes each had 14 points for Fordham (1-2). The Rams were just 19 of 62 (30.6 percent) from the field.
Layman hit a pair of 3-pointers, and Wells added another, to give the Terps an 11-5 lead with 14:16 left in the first half. Each team then struggled to make shots before a layup by Rhoomes pulled Fordham to within 16-15 with 4:47 left.
After Nickens provided Maryland with a 23-16 lead with 2 minutes remaining, Fordham’s Jon Severe had a steal and layup at the buzzer to cut the margin to five at the break.
The Terps then made their first three shots of the second half, including 3-pointers by Melo Trimble and Richaud Pack, that extended the lead to 34-24 with 15:54 left in the game. Maryland stayed in control and a pair of dunks by Layman and a jumper by Nickens provided a 15-point margin with 11:39 left.
PHOTOS: Maryland beats Fordham 66-50
Fordham continued to miss shots and Maryland took advantage. Another layup by Pack increased the lead to 53-34 with 4:18 remaining and the Terps had no trouble closing out the game.
TIP-INS
Maryland: After losing to Fordham in their first matchup in 1956, the Terps have won nine consecutive games in the series. . Maryland got more of a test against Fordham after securing consecutive 30-point wins for the first time since 2006-2007.
Fordham: Eric Paschall, who was the Atlantic 10’s Rookie of the Week after averaging 19.5 in his first two games, did not play after doctors detected an irregular heartbeat during a physical. Paschall underwent further tests and was cleared to resume practice Friday. Paschall scored 31 points in the season-opener against NYIT - a school record for most points scored by a freshman in his debut.
UP NEXT
Maryland takes on Arizona State in the CBE Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City, Missouri, on Monday.
Fordham hosts UMass Lowell on Sunday.
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