COLLEGE PARK, MD. – After trailing by three points at the end of the first half, South Alabama men's basketball struggled to find rhythm offensively and fell to the Maryland Terrapins 68-55 Saturday night in College Park. 

Julian Margrave had a strong showing, scoring 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field, while Isiah Gaiter scored double-digits for the seventh straight game, finishing with 17 points and five rebounds. 

 It was a tale of two halves as the Jaguars started the game strong, shooting 50 percent from the field and limiting the Terps to 39 percent from the floor, trailing by three points at halftime. Maryland would catch fire in the second half, totaling 36 points in the paint en route to victory. 

Maryland had four starters finish with double figures in scoring, while no other players scored points in the contest. Julian Reese and Donta Smith scored 19 points each to lead the Terps. 

Game Facts (How it Happened)

• The Jaguars began the game on a high note, rifling out to a 10-5 lead as Gaiter and Margrave connected on three-pointers, and Thomas Howell rattled in two layups in the paint to give South the lead at the 14:12 mark.
• Maryland took back control with two three-point jumpers and a layup at the rim to tie the game up 13-13 with 8:49 left in the first half. 
• Both teams battled back and forth in the next three possessions. Ethan Kizer hit a three-ball to record his first field goal of the season, but the Terps would answer by jumping out to a five-point lead off two jumpers and a three-point to give them a 23-18 advantage with five minutes remaining in the first half. 
• Gaiter and Margrave cut into that advantage with mid-range jumpers, but the Terps would continue to push forward and hold a 29-26 lead at halftime.
• Maryland would catch fire coming out of the second half, bolting out onto a 23-4 run to give the Terps a 53-30 lead with 13:48 left in regulation. 
• The Jags did not quit as Margrave scored a three-pointer and a fadeaway jumper, and Marcus Millender drained a pair of free throws and a fastbreak layup to help bring the score to 58-47 with five minutes left in the game. 
• The Terrapins were too strong on this night, bolting out to a 7-0 run and putting the game out of reach down the stretch to secure the 68-55 victory. 

Notes

• The Jaguars continued to be efficient from the free throw line, shooting 100 percent from the charity stripe compared to Maryland's 75 percent. This is the first time South Alabama shot perfect from the free throw line since January of 2021 against Georgia Southern. 
• The Terps controlled the glass throughout the night, grabbing 49 rebounds to the Jaguars 26. 
• Isiah Gaiter scored double-figures for the seven straight games this season. 
• Gaiter, Marcus Millender, Maxwell Land, and Thomas Howell all shot perfect from the free-throw line.  
• Julian Margrave led South Alabama in scoring for the second time this season. 
• Maxwell Land swiped a career-high of three steals. 
• Maryland shot 42.1 percent compared to the Jaguars 39.3 percent. 

Up Next 

South Alabama will now hit the road for another road contest against Jacksonville State on Thursday, Nov.30 at 6 p.m. CT.

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