COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) – John Gilchrist scored a season-high 29 points and Nik Caner-Medley had 20 to lead No. 24 Maryland to its fourth straight victory, 112-68 over Liberty on Tuesday night.

Ekene Ibekwe had 12 rebounds, and freshman James Gist scored 14 points for the Terrapins (8-2), who led 52-19 at halftime and increased the margin to 45 points with 6:40 left.

Gilchrist led the way, becoming the first Terp to reach the 20-point mark in five consecutive games since Juan Dixon in 2002. Gilchrist, a junior guard, hit five 3-pointers in finishing one point short of matching his career high in scoring.

Maryland improved to 106-2 in non-conference home games since the start of the 1989-90 season.

Larry Blair scored 30 points and Brian Woodson had 14 for Liberty (1-8), which has lost five straight.

The Flames, who won the Big South title last season to advance to the NCAA tournament, are off to their worst start since the 1998-99 season.

Liberty had 13 turnovers and only six field goals in the first half. Blair scored only five points before halftime on 2-for-7 shooting.

The Terrapins limited the Flames to 6-for-28 shooting, held a 30-14 edge in rebounding and had nine players score at least two points in the decisive first half.

Liberty led 6-4 before Chris McCray and Ibekwe each scored four points in a 10-0 run that put the Terrapins ahead for good. The Flames missed nine of their first 11 shots and were outrebounded 11-5 in the opening five minutes.

After Elijah Miller ended Liberty’s drought with two free throws, Gilchrist hit a 3-pointer and Caner-Medley added a dunk to make it 19-8. Blair then made a 3-pointer for the Flames before five different Terps scored in a 12-0 spree that increased the margin to 20.

Minutes later, successive baskets by Gilchrist sparked a 16-1 run that put Maryland up 52-17.

AP-ES-12-28-04 2206EST