College Park, Md. ? Playing the role of defending NCAA champions for the first time, Maryland delighted the largest home crowd in school history with a performance reminiscent of its banner season of a year ago.

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

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 Maryland 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 the Terrapins capped a 32-4 season by defeating Indiana to win the NCAA title.

“It felt good to see the banner come down,” 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, the Terrapins (1-0) turned in a performance befitting their stature as defending national champions.

Maryland limited the RedHawks (0-2) to 27-percent shooting in taking an 11-point halftime lead, then used a 9-0 run early in the second half to pull away.

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

No. 8 Florida 88, Coastal Carolina 45

Gainesville, Fla. – Freshman Anthony Roberson scored 26 points to lead Florida past Coastal Carolina. Roberson’s Matt Walsh scored 19 points on 7-for-10 shooting and has 65 points in Florida’s first three games. Roberson has 59 for the Gators (3-0).

No. 10 Oregon 97, Grambling State 52

Eugene, Ore.- James Davis had 21 points on seven 3-pointers as Oregon opened its season with a rout of Grambling State in the John Thompson Foundation Challenge. Luke Ridnour added 21 points and nine assists, and Luke Jackson had 14 points for Oregon.

No. 11 Xavier 93, Florida A&M 64

Cincinnati – Lionel Chalmers scored 16 points to lead Xavier’s victory over Florida A&M. David West had 19 points, Romain Sato had 16, and Dave Young and Anthony Myles each scored 10 for Xavier (2-1).

No. 24 Minnesota 87, UNC Asheville 81

Minneapolis – Rick Rickert scored 26 points, and Maurice Hargrow added 21, allowing Minnesota (1-0) to hold on.

No. 25 Tulsa 80, Texas-Pan American 50

South Padre Island, Texas – Kevin Johnson scored 21 points to lead Tulsa over Texas-Pan American at the South Padre Island Roundball Invitational Tournament.