In a strong showing for the Maryland men’s basketball team, the Terps defeated Georgia Tech 85-70 in a neutral-site exhibition game, providing head coach Buzz Williams a promising start to his second season. The game took place on Sunday and allowed fans to preview the revamped roster.

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Maryland started strong with a three-guard lineup, quickly establishing a 10-4 lead, bolstered by three-pointers from Andre Mills and Mike McNair Jr. After Williams rotated in larger players, the offense faced a brief lull but regained momentum, stretching their lead to 13 points by the first half's end.

Maryland’s bench was a significant contributor, scoring 38 points while only freshmen Kaden House and Adama Tambedou exceeded the 30% usage mark. Rebounding, a focus for the Terps this season, improved notably as they out-rebounded Georgia Tech 44 to 33, including 16 offensive boards. Pharel Payne played a key role, collecting nine rebounds along with 16 points and three steals.

Late in the first half, Payne showcased his hustle by diving for a loose ball and setting up a one-handed slam for DJ Wagner, one of eight guards used during the game. Their performance led to a dominant first half where Maryland entered the locker room with a 21-point lead, having scored 31 of their first-half points from the guard position.

The Terps also improved their three-point shooting, making 38.1% of their attempts. In contrast to last season, where they had one of the lowest percentages in the conference, the shot selection appeared more effective this time around. Guillermo Del Pino emerged as a standout, executing a notable alley-oop for Payne and contributing solid play throughout the game.

Despite limited scoring with only one field goal and several fouls, five-star recruit Baba Oladotun displayed skill in managing the team's offense.

Three key takeaways from the game include:

1. Freshman Kaden House made an unexpected impact, scoring 14 points in 14 minutes.

2. Free-throw shooting remains an area of concern, with Maryland hitting only 70.4% from the line after finishing last in the Big Ten at 72.2% last season.

3. Looking ahead, Maryland will host West Virginia for their final exhibition game before opening the season against Bucknell on November 2.