Maryland/Pennsylvania Men's College Basketball recap on ESPN

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Byron Mouton carried 17th-ranked Maryland in the first half and Steve Blake thwarted a second-half comeback by winless Pennsylvania.

Mouton had 19 of his 20 points in the first half when Maryland built a 22-point lead and Blake scored all 10 of his points in the final four minutes as Maryland held off Pennslyvania, 87-81.

A 3-pointer by Lamar Plummer helped Penn pull within 75-69 with 4:22 left, but Blake responded with a 3-pointer for his first field goal of the night.

Blake, a 6-3 sophomore, added a jumper with 2:53 remaining to give Maryland (5-3) an 80-69 advantage and added a baseline drive and three free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Juan Dixon led the Terrapins with 23 points.

"We had a 22-point lead and we should have finished them off," Dixon said. "We didn't finish Penn off tonight. We need to develop a killer instinct."

Despite the second-half comeback, Pennsylvania (0-6) is in danger of tying the worst start in school history back in 1984-85 when the Quakers opened with seven losses. Penn plays Seton Hall at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.

Plummer led the Quakers with 23 points, including seven 3-pointers, and Ugonna Onyekwe added 20.

"When we cut it to six, Blake rallied them," Penn coach Fran Dunphy said. "I was proud of the way we fought back. We probably can't play any better than we did in the second half."

Mouton scored 11 points, including three 3-pointers, and Dixon added a 3-pointer, a layup and a pair of free throws in a 21-1 run which opened a 30-13 lead for Maryland.

Three free throws by Dixon gave Maryland its biggest lead of the half, 47-23, with 4:04 left.

Mouton converted 6-of-8 shots for 19 points in the first half, but was held to just one shot in the second half.

"I thought what Byron Mouton did in the first half was incredible, but we didn't seem able to get him the ball in the second half," Maryland coach Gary Williams said. "He has been a factor for us as he has improved as a starter. He's given us some personality."

Plummer hit three 3-pointers to spark a 16-5 second-half run, pulling Penn within 69-60 with 9:31 remaining.

After a layup by Lonny Baxter and two free throws by Dixon, Plummer hit another 3-pointer. His seventh 3-pointer of the game brought Penn to the closest it would get at 75-69 before Blake took over.

Blake hit an open 3-pointer with 3:55 left, created a turnover with a block and hit a short jumper to give Maryland an 11-point lead.

After a layup by Onyekwe, Blake converted a baseline drive and a pair of free throws to open a 13-point lead.

Dave Klatsky hit a pair of 3-pointers in the final 17 seconds for Penn.

ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard

Maryland Clubhouse

Pennsylvania Clubhouse