Queen, who is highly regarded as a consensus five-star recruit and the second-highest ranked player in the history of the Maryland program, achieved a notable feat. He became the first freshman in Division I basketball to score at least 20 points and collect 20-plus rebounds in his debut since Michael Beasley accomplished the same for Kansas State in 2007.
Standing at 6-foot-10, Queen had an impactful first half, netting 11 points and pulling down 12 rebounds as the Terrapins entered the halftime break with a narrow 31-28 lead. Despite struggling offensively, converting only 36.7% of their shots from the field and 18.2% from three-point range in the first half, Maryland managed to secure a substantial rebounding advantage over the Jaspers, 24-13. They also dominated in second-chance opportunities, scoring 7-0 due to an 8-0 edge on the offensive boards.
The second half saw Queen score seven straight points, extending Maryland’s lead into double digits for the first time at 43-32 with 16:34 left on the clock. While Shaquil Bender responded with a layup followed by a three-pointer, Gillespie, who had an impressive previous season with Belmont averaging 17.2 points, capped off a 9-0 run with five consecutive points, elevating the score to 52-37 with 14 minutes remaining.
This victory marks the 48th consecutive home opener win for Maryland, extending their impressive streak that dates back to November 27, 1976, which is the third longest in the nation. Bender led the Jaspers, contributing 12 points, while Devin Dinkins added 10 points to the effort.