COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — It was a first half so pristine, so darn near perfect, that Michigan didn’t know what was more impressive — its uncanny shooting ability or unrelenting defense.

Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman scored 22 of his career-high 28 points before halftime, and the 17th-ranked Wolverines easily defeated Maryland 85-61 Saturday for their fifth straight victory.

Using runs of 9-0 and 16-3, the Wolverines built a 54-24 halftime lead and cruised to the finish. Michigan went 17 for 28 from the floor, including 11 for 19 from 3-point range, in its best half this season.

“If you add offense and defense, it probably was,” coach John Beilein said. “At halftime, I talked to them about holding Maryland to 24 points. That’s what was great about that half.”

Well, Abdur-Rahkman was as close to great as it gets. The senior guard made six 3-pointers in the first half and also led the Wolverines with five rebounds and four assists.

As Abdur-Rahkman kept drilling 3s, Beilein pulled him aside and said, “You’re doing a great D-Walt impersonation at just the right time.”

The reference was to former Michigan guard Derrick Walton Jr., the team’s leading scorer last season and a second-team All-Big Ten member.

Although Abdur-Rahkman cooled off in the second half, he nevertheless surpassed his previous career best of 26 points.

The Wolverines (24-7, 13-5 Big Ten) have clinched the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament.

Anthony Cowan Jr. scored 17 for Maryland, which suffered its most lopsided home loss since a 104-72 defeat against Duke on Jan 3, 1998.

“We were terrible. It starts with me,” coach Mark Turgeon said.