COLLEGE PARK, Md. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by frigid shooting and physical play, the Georgetown Hoyas opened their season with a significant road victory, upsetting the Maryland Terrapins 70-60 before a crowd of 16,594 at the Xfinity Center on Friday night.

The Hoyas, now 2-0, used a dominant defensive performance to stifle the heavily favored Terrapins, who were projected to win with a 95 percent probability and entered the game as 8-point favorites. Georgetown’s defense held Maryland to a dismal 13-of-52 shooting from the floor, a paltry 25 percent, and just 4-of-21 from three-point range.

Georgetown set the tone early, opening the game on a 14-0 run that left the home crowd stunned. The Hoyas’ aggressive defense forced Maryland into turnovers and difficult shots, building a 32-27 halftime lead that they would not relinquish.

Maryland, which fell to 0-1, struggled to find any offensive rhythm throughout the contest. While they found some success at the free-throw line, making 30 of 37 attempts, their inability to score from the field proved insurmountable. The Terrapins finished with only two assists as a team, a statistic underscoring their stagnant offense.

Georgetown’s offense was far from efficient, shooting 21-of-53 from the field and 5-of-20 from beyond the arc, but they made up for it with hustle and defensive intensity. The Hoyas outscored Maryland 30-16 in the paint, 14-4 on fast breaks, and 13-12 off turnovers. Georgetown also recorded 11 blocked shots and six steals, disrupting Maryland’s offensive sets repeatedly.

Malik Mack, a guard from nearby Oxon Hill, Maryland, led all scorers with 19 points for Georgetown. He was complemented by KJ Lewis, who added 16 points, and Caleb Williams, who chipped in 14 points and two blocks.

For Maryland, the lone bright spots were Pharrel Payne, who battled for 17 points, and Myles Rice, who also scored 19 points, with many of his points coming from the free-throw line.

The game’s final score of 130 combined points fell well short of the pregame over/under line of 148.5, highlighting the defensive nature of the contest. Georgetown’s victory provides a major boost for the program as they head into a challenging early-season schedule, while Maryland will look to regroup after a disappointing start to their campaign.