Eric Hayes News

Heading into the Terrapin men's basketball team's game Saturday against Eastern Kentucky - the Terps only game in a two-week stretch thanks to final exams - the pregame build-up surrounded the season debut of forward Dino Gregory after an eight-game suspension for an unspecified team rules violation.

The mid-December exams break provides Maryland's basketball team an opportunity for a respite from a hectic early schedule - not to mention the opportunity to reflect on just how well the Terrapins have done.

Greivis Vasquez scored 20 points in an unwanted reserve role, Landon Milbourne had 19, and Maryland outlasted stubborn Eastern Kentucky 83-72 on Saturday.

For the first time in more than three weeks, Maryland senior guard Greivis Vasquez was made available to speak with reporters, and over the course of 15 minutes Friday at Comcast Center he openly discussed and evaluated his performance thus far in his final collegiate campaign.

'I'm disappointed,' Vasquez said. 'It's horrible. I'm really angry at myself. I've worked too hard. I let so many things bother me, and I wasn't myself. And then we lost three games that we should have won. And it was all because supposedly the best player and the leader of the team didn't do what he needs to be doing, and I take responsibility.'

Sean Mosley caught the ball near the edge of the foul line with his back to a Villanova defender and the hoop early in the second half of Sunday's BB&T Classic at Verizon Center.

In the Terrapin men's basketball team's first four games, its pressing defense caused havoc and led to transition offense that produced blow-out victories against over-matched, small-conference opponents.

The pocket ace Maryland held throughout both its struggles last season and its strong finish was a November victory over a top five opponent. When Selection Sunday came, the Terrapins were on the figurative bubble, and although it never will be known how much their win over then-No. 5 Michigan State in a Thanksgiving weekend tournament helped them earn a No. 10 seed, the achievement certainly provided a considerable push.

So far this season, Maryland (5-2) stands without such a signature nonconference victory, and its final opportunity to claim one comes Sunday night, when the Terrapins will take on No. 3 Villanova (7-0) in the BB&T Classic at Verizon Center.

Maryland guard Eric Hayes knows his coach's preferred tactics. The Terrapins, as they have much of the past two decades, remain reliant on man-to-man defense.

At one point during the middle of the first half of Maryland's 80-68 win Tuesday night, Indiana made five straight shots while going on a 14-3 run that turned a four-point Maryland lead into a seven-point Maryland deficit.

You get the sense watching senior guard Greivis Vasquez that he's getting closer to the form in which Maryland needs him to operate in order for the Terrapins to be most successful this season.

The combination finally knocked out Indiana . Vasquez made 13 of 14 free throws and had 23 points, Milbourne added 19 points and seven rebounds despite playing in foul trouble, and the last flurry allowed Maryland to pull away for an 80-68 victory in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge.

For years, an appearance in the Maui Invitational came with a figurative badge of honor for any NCAA men's basketball team.

Lahaina, Hawaii As Terrapin basketball coach Gary Williams walked to the locker room at halftime of yesterday's Maui Invitational opener against Chaminade with a look of perturbed consternation, his eyes kept darting toward the scoreboard in the tiny Lahaina Civic Center.

The Maryland Terrapins fell for the second straight game, this time to Wisconsin.

There will be times Maryland forward Landon Milbourne will be asked to play nearly entire games, remaining on the floor with barely a breather while an outcome is remotely in doubt.

The 25th-ranked Maryland Terrapins will look to continue their fast start to the season, as they take on the Chaminade Silverswords in the first round of the Maui Invitational tonight at Lahaina Civic Center.

Maryland finishes its season-opening homestand on Friday night with an 8 p.m. game against New Hampshire.

The 25th-ranked Maryland Terrapins continued their early-season dominance over weaker teams on Friday night, crushing the New Hampshire Wildcats 82-55. Senior forward Landon Milbourne scored a career high 24 points, and sophomore guard Sean Mosley had his first career double-double, with 13 points and 10 assists.

Landon Milbourne scored 24 points on 9- of-15 shooting, and the 25th-ranked Maryland Terrapins dominated the New Hampshire Wildcats, 82-55, at Comcast Center.

Those were the days when the Terrapins still played at Cole Field House; Juan Dixon, Steve Blake, and Lonny Baxter owned the court.A When National Championships were always a possibility.A From what we've seen so far this season, it looks as if Gary Williams may be bringing his team back into the spotlight.