Derik Queen, Terps look to build on impressive opener in Friday showdown with Mount St. Mary’s

Photo courtesy of Maryland Athletics

Monday night, freshman center Derik Queen became the only Maryland Terrapin to eclipse both 20 points and rebounds in a game this century. He is now the only Big Ten freshman with 20 rebounds in a game this century. He is the second player with a 20-20 debut game in this century.

He has played in one game at the NCAA level.

Queen had the XFINITY Center crowd in the palm of his hand well before tipoff versus Manhattan, a game that Maryland only trailed for 43 seconds in, ultimately winning by 30. Queen will likely draw the same attention Friday night against Mount St. Mary’s.

“I was playing like ‘LaMarvelous’ Jackson,” Queen said after his 22-point, 20-rebound performance.

The five-star Baltimore native will look to keep the Terps unbeaten against the Mountaineers all-time. The in-state matchup has 11 meetings dating back to 1987, with the most recent being a 68-53 win at XFINITY for the Terps last November.

Sophomore wing DeShawn Harris-Smith made his debut in that one, registering Maryland’s most recent double-figure scoring debut before Queen. Three hundred and sixty-six days later, the Terrapins and Mountaineers will run it back.

Transfer guards Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Rodney Rice will also look to follow up standout debuts in College Park. Gillespie dropped 16 points and added five assists, while Rice found his shooting touch in the second half, notching 12.

“He keeps the game really simple. He’s gonna shoot it, or he’s gonna create offense off the dribble,” Willard said of Rice. “For him to come out after being out that long – the way I’m looking at things, those are all really good positives.”

Rice, a product of DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, spent his injury-riddled 2022-23 freshman campaign at Virginia Tech, where he appeared in just eight games. After sitting out last season, Rice joined Maryland’s roster in April as a sophomore.

Mount St. Mary’s opened their 2024-25 season Monday at home against Notre Dame of Maryland. Sophomore guard Dallas Hobbs led the Mountaineers’ to a 98-62 win with 17 points and five assists.

Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. and will be aired on Big Ten Network.