Mark Turgeon got off to a successful start as Maryland's new coach Sunday night, guiding the Terrapins past UNC Wilmington 71-62 in his first game since taking over for Gary Williams.
Terrell Stoglin scored 22 for Maryland (1-0), which won its 10th straight opener overall and 35th in a row at home. The Terrapins opened the second half with a 13-4 run to go up 45-31 and never let the margin shrink below six points.
It was Maryland's first game since 1989 without Williams on the sideline. Williams retired in May as the winningest coach in school history and was replaced by Turgeon, who took Texas A&M to the NCAA tournament in four straight seasons.
Although Maryland is thin on height and experience, it still beat a UNCW team with only one senior starter. Freshman guard Adam Smith led the Seahawks (0-1) with 23 points, including 16 in the first half.
Unlike Williams, who entered the arena to a standing ovation before thrusting his fist in the air toward the student section, Turgeon emerged from the tunnel to polite applause and walked along the baseline without expression toward his place on the bench.
He was, however, active during the game.
Turgeon rarely sat down, shouted non-stop instructions and at one point stamped his foot on the court to get Stoglin's attention while the point guard was setting up a play.
Up by only five points at halftime, the Terrapins used two straight baskets by junior James Padgett and a layup by Stoglin to make it 38-27. It was 40-31 before freshman forward Ashton Pankey scored five consecutive points for a 14-point cushion.
After UNCW got to 55-47, a three-point play by Pankey gave Maryland some breathing room. The Seahawks closed to 65-59 with two minutes to go but could not complete the comeback.
Pankey finished with 13 points and eight rebounds for Maryland, and Padgett contributed 12 points and seven rebounds.
Stoglin scored 14 in the opening half, and the Terrapins limited UNCW to 32 percent shooting in taking a 32-27 halftime lead.
Play was sloppy at the outset. Maryland had three baskets (in 12 tries) and seven turnovers in the opening 11 minutes, yet the score was 11-all because the Seahawks opened 4 of 17 from the floor with six turnovers.
It was 15-15 before a layup by Maryland's Sean Mosley launched an 8-0 run that included a basket and two free throws by Stoglin. Smith then hit a trio of 3-pointers in an 11-4 spurt that got UNCW to 27-26.
