COLLEGE PARK, Md. – DJ Laster scored a game-high 21 points and David Efianayi had 18, but Gardner-Webb dropped an 82-60 decision at Maryland Saturday afternoon in the XFINITY Center.

Maryland (9-3) shot 54.5 percent from the floor, including 10-of-20 from long range, and took advantage of its big front line to slowly pull away.

The Terrapins utilized their size advantage early, going inside to 7-foot-1 center Michal Cekovsky and 6-foot-9 forward Ivan Bender to create offensive chances – and creating a difficult landscape for Gardner-Webb to score.

Maryland used an 7-0 run to go up 14-6 with 13:33 left, but DJ Laster converted on the other end with an old-fashioned three-point play – breaking a field goal drought of nearly four minutes for the Runnin' Bulldogs.

Gardner-Webb employed a zone to slow down the bigger Terrapins, but the home squad eventually stretched its lead to double figures on a pair of Anthony Cowan free throws with 8:14 left in the first half – taking a 26-16 lead.

The Runnin' Bulldogs kept plugging away behind the play of Laster, who cut the lead to 28-22 with 5:33 to play in the half on a thunderous dunk over two Terrapin defenders. That was Gardner-Webb's last field goal of the half, as Maryland closed on a 10-2 run to go up 38-24 at the break.

The Terrapins came out of the locker room firing on all cylinders, throwing a trio of lobs over the top to Cekovsky and getting a pair of three-pointers from Dion Wiley to spark a surge that pushed the lead to 56-36 with 13:12 to play in the game.

Gardner-Webb went on an 8-0 run of its own to pull back within 12 points, with a Laster dunk and free throw making the score 56-44 with 11:11 on the game clock.

Maryland went on another run, however, getting a pair of three-pointers to fall as part of a 10-2 spurt to go back by by 20 with just under 10 minutes left and went on to the win.

Gardner-Webb shot 38.6 percent for the game and made just 4-of-17 from three-point range (23.5 percent). GWU did shoot effectively from the charity stripe, knocking down 12-of-13 chances (92.3 percent).

Laster was 9-of-18 from the floor for his 21 points, and added six rebounds. Efianayi made 7-of-11 shots, and both of his three-pointers to finish with 18 points. Liam O'Reilly flirted with double figures, scoring Gardner-Webb's first five points out of halftime and finishing with nine points on the day.

Gardner-Webb rebounded relatively well considering its size disadvantage, with Maryland taking a 34-32 edge on the glass.

The Terrapins made 30-of-55 shots from the field and put four in double figures. Darryl Morsell led the way with 18 points, Kevin Huerter added 15 and Cekovsky had 12. Cowan added 10 points.

Gardner-Webb will take a break for final exams, then will get back to action next Sunday at Hampton. Tip for the Runnin' Bulldogs and Pirates is set for 2:00 PM.