The Associated Press

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Playing the role of defending NCAA champions for the first time, the Maryland Terrapins delighted the largest home crowd in school history with a performance reminiscent of their banner season.

Drew Nicholas scored 16 points as 12th-ranked Maryland cruised to its 85th consecutive non-conference home victory Sunday, 64-49 over the Miami RedHawks.

The night began with the unfurling of the championship banner from the rafters of the new $107 Comcast Center. The scene obviously had an impact on Terrapins coach Gary Williams, who was swept away by the moment.

"You never know if you're going to see that during your coaching career," he said. "I was kind of caught up in it."

So much that he followed the ceremony with his customary pregame speech to his team.

"Then I remembered they hadn't introduced the players yet. So after they introduced the players, I had to give the same speech again - and they still didn't hear me," Williams said.

Perhaps it was because the players' minds were still on last year, when Maryland capped a 32-4 season by defeating Indiana to win the NCAA title.

"It felt good to see the banner come down," Terrapins guard Steve Blake said. "It sent chills through my body for a couple of seconds, but then I had to make myself forget about that and get ready for the game."

Playing in front of an emotionally charged sellout crowd of 17,950, Maryland (1-0) turned in a game befitting its stature.

The Terrapins limited the RedHawks (0-2) to 27 percent shooting in taking an 11-point halftime lead, then pulled away with a 9-0 run in the second half.

Maryland's 85-game non-conference run, which started in 1989 at Cole Field House, is the longest in the nation. The Terrapins also have won 19 straight at home since Feb.14, 2001.

It wasn't a brilliant performance, but it was plenty good enough.

"It was a tough day, very emotional," Williams said. "It was nice to get this one in. Now we get down to the business of being a good basketball team."

Danny Horace (Western Hills) had 17 points and 12 rebounds for Miami, which had the misfortune of drawing the defending champions in the opening of their new arena.

Even the RedHawks were affected by the unfurling of the 8-by-12 foot banner.

"It was a great time for us," Miami coach Charlie Coles said. "When we get a chance to dream wildly, we dream about winning a national championship. To see the banner was beautiful."

Ryan Randle scored a career-high 15 points for the Terrapins, who lost four starters from the team that beat Indiana in April.

Miami	M	FG	Att	FT	Att	R	A	F	TO	TP
Reed	13	1	3	2	2	1	3	3	2	5
Horace	32	6	16	4	6	12	1	2	1	17
Jameson	22	0	2	0	0	2	1	4	3	0
Mason	25	2	7	0	0	5	0	3	5	5
Johnson	28	1	7	2	3	4	5	3	4	4
Drake	4	0	3	0	0	2	0	0	0	0
Hausfeld	22	4	8	0	0	2	0	3	2	11
Williams	5	0	0	0	00	0	0	1	0	0
Baumgartner	8	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Morningstar	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Seals	14	1	4	3	3	4	0	1	3	5
Schenke	25	1	4	0	0	3	1	5	0	2
Totals	200	16	55	11	14	38	8	25	22	49

Team rebounds: 3

Maryland	M	FG	Att	FT	Att	R	A	F	TO	TP
McCall	17	1	4	0	0	5	1	1	0	2
Randle	22	6	9	3	4	5	0	4	1	15
Holden	21	1	5	4	5	2	2	2	2	6
Nicholas	27	5	10	6	7	3	1	0	3	16
Blake	33	2	8	3	4	2	8	2	4	9
Smith	13	1	2	1	1	2	0	0	0	3
Collins	8	0	1	1	2	2	1	0	1	1
Garrison	22	3	5	2	3	6	1	2	1	8
Gilchrist	11	1	1	0	0	1	0	1	0	2
McCray	7	0	2	1	2	4	0	1	2	1
Grinnon	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0
C.Medley	15	0	4	1	2	2	1	2	1	1
Totals	200	20	51	22	30	39	15	15	16	64

Miami	21	28	-49
Maryland	32	32	-64

A-17,950. Treys-MU 6-25 (Reed 1-2, Horace 1-6, Mason 1-2, Johnson 0-4, Drake 0-2, Hausfeld 3-4, Baumgartner 0-1, Seals 0-2, Schenke 0-2); Md. 2-10 (Nicholas 0-2, Blake 2-7, McCray 0-1). Technicals-MU 2 (Mason, Horace), Md 1 (Blake).