COLLEGE PARK, Md. (Interstat) — In a stunning season-opening upset, the Georgetown Hoyas rode a dominant defensive performance and a balanced scoring attack to a 70-60 victory over the Maryland Terrapins on Friday night before a crowd of 16,594 at a raucous Xfinity Center.

The Hoyas, now 2-0 under new coach Ed Cooley, never trailed and led by as many as 16 points in the first half, silencing a Terrapins team that was projected by advanced metrics to have a 95 percent chance of winning and was an eight-point pregame favorite. Georgetown’s defense was the story, forcing Maryland into a disjointed offensive performance and capitalizing on turnovers to build an early lead they would never relinquish.

Georgetown set the tone immediately, opening the game on a 14-0 run that left the home crowd in stunned silence. The sequence was fueled by aggressive defense and efficient scoring. Julius Halaifonua, the 7-foot freshman from New Zealand, won the opening tip and scored the game’s first points on a layup just 28 seconds in. Georgetown’s pressure forced two quick Maryland turnovers, which the Hoyas converted into points, including a driving layup from KJ Lewis.

The Hoyas’ lead ballooned to 16 points late in the first half before Maryland managed to find a slight rhythm. The Terrapins closed the half on a 9-2 run, capped by a Myles Rice 3-pointer, to cut the deficit to 32-27 at the break. Despite the run, Maryland’s shooting struggles were evident, and they could not consistently solve Georgetown’s defensive schemes.

Maryland carried some momentum into the second half, trimming the Georgetown lead to just three points on several occasions. However, every time the Terrapins threatened, the Hoyas had an answer. A key sequence came midway through the second half when, leading by five, Georgetown’s Malik Mack and KJ Lewis hit back-to-back 3-pointers to push the advantage back to double digits and effectively halt Maryland’s final significant push.

Mack, a guard playing in his home state, led all scorers with 19 points, showcasing a clutch shooting touch whenever Maryland threatened a comeback. He was complemented by Lewis, who added 16 points and three assists, and Caleb Williams, who chipped in 14 points and provided a formidable defensive presence with two blocks.

For Maryland, now 0-1 to start its season, the interior presence of Pharrel Payne was a bright spot. The 6-foot-9 forward from Minnesota scored 17 points and was a force on both ends, but he lacked consistent support. Myles Rice also scored 19 points for the Terrapins, though his scoring came on an inefficient shooting night as Georgetown’s defense focused on limiting his penetration.

Georgetown’s size and length, particularly from its trio of 7-footers in Halaifonua, Vincent Iwuchukwu, and Ryan Mutombo, disrupted Maryland’s offense all night. The Hoyas racked up numerous blocks and altered countless other shots, holding the Terrapins well below their projected scoring output. The total score of 130 points fell far under the pregame over/under line of 148.5, a testament to the defensive struggle imposed by the visiting Hoyas.

The victory marks a significant early-season statement for Georgetown as it looks to rebuild the program. The Hoyas will look to continue their winning ways when they host Binghamton on Wednesday. Maryland, meanwhile, will seek its first win of the season at home against Alcorn State on Tuesday.