Robert Carter shines on both ends in Maryland basketball debut

In his first game in nearly 20 months, forward Robert Carter proved dominant in Maryland's 91-55 exhibition win over Southern New Hampshire University.

Carter got it all done in just 20 minutes, posting 12 points and hauling in 10 rebounds, including three offensively. Most impressive might have been his 4 blocks, which anchored Maryland's defense, holding SNHU to 29 percent shooting for the game. Carter already introduced himself to Maryland's highlight reels with a swat off the backboard.

In his final season at Georgia Tech, Carter averaged 11.4 points off 9.3 field goal attempts, getting to the line just over three times per game. In his first game at Xfinity Center, he was able to better his point total on three fewer attempts and get to the free throw line twice as often.

"They double-teamed the post, just because they were smaller, but with the weapons we have on the perimeter it makes it so much easier," Carter said. "I feel like at Georgia Tech, whether they were doubling or not I had to find a way to score. Now I don't have to force it at all. I love that I can pass to my teammates and they can make a shot."

While shooting-wise the Terrapins offense was booming, hitting 9 of 21 3-point shots and shooting 52.6 percent from the field, turnovers and fouls were a problem in both halves. Carter finished with 4 fouls and turned the ball over three times, some of which happened simultaneously. He attributed some of the sloppiness with the change from guarding each other in practice, to defending no player over 6'8 in Friday night's game.

"I got some of my fouls on offense, just running over guys" Carter said. "I've been used to playing against 7-footers. We have a really big team every day in practice. It's different from hitting them to hitting the guys we played tonight. They just kind of fell over a little bit."

The size differential was apparent, not just by watching, but also in the numbers. Maryland out-rebounded the Penmen 50-22, and Carter and junior Damonte Dodd together were one rebound shy of matching their opponents' team total. 6'4 guard Rasheed Sulaimon brought down 7 boards himself.

Carter had a slight scare in the first half, heading to the locker room briefly in the first half, but returned to score 10 of his 12 in the second half, including one shot from deep, showcasing his widely talked about improved range.

"He's been out a while so i think he's just going to get better," coach Mark Turgeon said. "He kept saying he felt good the whole game. He's a such a great kid so I just want great things to happen to him. He's come a long way in the last 12 months."