No. 4-seed Maryland men’s basketball played its first NCAA Tournament game in two years Friday.

After a tough loss to Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals nearly a week ago, the Terps bounced back in impressive fashion, defeating No. 13-seed Grand Canyon, 81-49, in the opening round.

Here are three takeaways from the game.

The big men stepped up

When the offense struggled early, head coach Kevin Willard turned to the one player in his starting lineup with NCAA Tournament experience: Julian Reese.

Maryland started the game shooting just 1-of-9 from the field and committed turnovers on three consecutive possessions. While Grand Canyon was also shooting poorly (2-of-9 in the same stretch), it was clear the Terps needed a spark to break out of their early slump.

Enter Reese. The 6-foot-9 forward consistently got touches in the low post, capitalizing on favorable matchups. His size advantage around the rim helped, and although he missed his first two free throws, he made Maryland’s first three field goals.

In the first half, Grand Canyon opted not to double-team Reese, given that Derik Queen was on the floor alongside him. This decision allowed Reese to operate in space, backing down defenders with ease. He finished with a team-high 18 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.

“I know the big fella is going to show up, and he [has] showed up for four years,” Willard said.

Queen became more aggressive in the second half. A dominant presence on the boards as usual, he also showcased his versatility on offense, whether posting up or facing up defenders and driving past them. Queen constantly sought contact, crashing the paint and creating opportunities for kickouts to the perimeter. He ended with 12 points, 15 rebounds, three assists and two blocks, becoming the first Maryland player to record a double-double in their NCAA Tournament debut since 2019.

Given that Maryland had only hit one 3-pointer in the first 14 minutes — and attempted just two — it was crucial for the Terps to capitalize on their looks down low to keep up the scoring pace.

Harris-Smith provided a spark off the bench

DeShawn Harris-Smith delivered in a big way on Friday, posting a season-high 11 points on the biggest stage in college basketball.

His ability to attack the rim, finishing through contact, was evident throughout the game. He also drained a 3-pointer — just his sixth of the season — finishing 5-of-5 from the field and posting a team-high +31 plus-minus.

But Harris-Smith’s impact went beyond his scoring. He matched up well against Grand Canyon’s guards, spending time defending Tyon Grant-Foster, who finished with a game-high 23 points. Harris-Smith’s size and athleticism helped limit Grant-Foster’s effectiveness, forcing him into difficult shots while the Terps went on multiple 9-0 runs at the other end.

Harris-Smith’s contribution is vital for another reason: if Maryland is to make a deep run, having a player like him come off the bench with fresh legs and the ability to produce is invaluable. In tournament play, Maryland may find itself in foul trouble, and Harris-Smith’s growing confidence couldn’t have come at a better time.

“[DeShawn’s] starting to become the player that he knows he could be, because he’s been a great leader all year,” Willard said. “He has grown tremendously as a person.”

Perimeter shooting was key

While Maryland initially focused on scoring in the paint, the guards soon found their rhythm from beyond the arc.

With about six-and-a-half minutes remaining in the first half, the Terps had already built a 14-point lead thanks to Reese’s strong play. Then, Maryland exploded from deep, hitting two consecutive 3-pointers — and three in just three minutes — courtesy of Rodney Rice, Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Selton Miguel. The Terps extended their lead to 17 during that stretch.

In the second half, Maryland opened the game even further. Although the Terps shot 3-of-7 from downtown in the period, two of those made 3-pointers came from Miguel on back-to-back possessions, essentially putting the game out of reach with five minutes left. The contested nature of those shots was especially impressive.

Ultimately, Maryland proved capable of overcoming a slow shooting start, finishing the game shooting over 50% from the field and 43.8% from deep. Grand Canyon struggled to keep up in contrast, making just 5-of-23 from beyond the arc.

Maryland’s ability to effectively attack both the paint and the perimeter throughout the game showed a sobering reality for other teams: trying to shut down one aspect of its offense will inevitably leave the door open for the other.