Maryland Wins Delayed Opener, 76-58 : Lewis Scores 23 Points to Make Wade’s College Debut a Success

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — As the elder statesman on Maryland’s basketball team, Derrick Lewis knows he has to do a lot more scoring than in the past.

The junior center responded with a career-high 23 points as the Terrapins opened their season with a 76-58 victory over Winthrop CollegeSaturday night, giving Coach Bob Wade a victory in his collegiate debut.

Wade replaced Lefty Driesell, who resigned under pressure after 17 years following the cocaine-induced death of All-American Len Bias and subsequent disclosures of academic deficiencies on the squad. The opener was delayed a month to allow more study time.

“It’s up to me to pick up the slack,” Lewis said. “That’s pretty much understood. But I always won’t be the top scorer. Other players are capable of scoring, and if they’re open, they have to take the shot.”

Lewis, who took only 200 shots in 33 games last season, when he averaged 7.9 points a game, joked after his 8-for-11 shooting performance: “My arm got a little tired in the second half. I think 6 or 7 shots was the most I ever took before, and that was in double overtime.”

Wade, who compiled a 272-24 record in 11 seasons at Baltimore’s Dunbar High School, was asked to rate his own performance.

“I think Bob Wade did a pretty commendable job as far as keeping the youngsters under control,” he said. “That was the key.”

Asked if he learned anything in his debut, Wade cracked: “That instead of four quarters, we played two halves. I was waiting for the buzzer to go off a couple of times.

Lewis and freshman Teyon McCoy scored five points apiece as the Terrapins outscored the Eagles, 10-3, at the start of the second half to take a 42-30 lead.

Maryland later went on a 12-2 streak, with sophomore John Johnson scoring the first and last baskets, to open a 56-36 advantage.

Winthrop (4-4) led only after scoring the first basket of the game, and the Eagles were tied with Maryland four times in the opening 11 minutes.

With the score tied, 15-15, freshman Andre Reyes scored four points during a 10-2 Maryland spurt to make it 25-17 before the Eagles responded with six consecutive points.

Lewis also had nine rebounds and four blocked shots. Dave Dickerson scored 15 points for the Terrapins, and Steve Hood, one of seven freshmen, added 11.

Winthrop, playing its first season in Division I, was led by Ted Houpt with 18 points and Greg Washington with 12.