Nov. 25, 1997

LaRon Profit scored 15 against Florida International. (File photo)

Maryland Feasts on Florida International

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - In their final game before a Thanksgiving break, five players scored in double figures and the 24th-ranked Terrapins used a 20-point run in the first half to cruise to the victory before a crowd of 12,765 at Cole Field House.

Senior forward Rodney Elliott led the Terrapins with a season-high 20 points and 10 rebounds. Junior center Obinna Ekezie had 18 points and eight rebounds and junior guard Laron Profit, who led the Terrapins (3-1) in scoring in their three previous games, had 15 points.

"We were ready to play again," said Williams, whose team has won three consecutive games. "We got it going and we kept it going. It's tough to judge right now, but the key thing I can see is we're being unselfish. That's going to help us keep getting better and better."

Junior point guard Terrell Stokes had 11 points and six rebounds and freshman forward Terence Morris had a season-high 11 points. The Terrapins had 25 assists, shot 59 percent and had a 57-30 rebounding advantage.

Maryland led 13-11 five minutes into the game before breaking it open by scoring the next 20 points, including seven by Profit and six by Elliott. In all, Florida International (1-1) went nearly 13 minutes without a field goal while Maryland forged a 53-26 halftime lead.

In the second half, the Terrapins led by 55 points and Williams cleared the bench with five minutes remaining. All 12 players scored.

"I think we've improved in every game," Ekezie said. "We know we have to come back [from Thanksgiving] focused and keep improving each day in practice. If we can sustain that, I think we'll be very much ready to play Clemson."

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