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The way the Surface Forces Logistic Center was forced to begin the 2012 intramural basketball season wouldn't be envied by any other team.

When SFLC took the court for the first time this season, its record was 0-3, having inherited Cyber Command's record after replacing the team in the Division I intramural league.

Facing the challenge of beginning the season three games back, the SFLC players started their season with an offensive showcase as they registered 75 points against Navy Information Operations Command Maryland in a 75-58 victory Monday night at Murphy Field House.

Derek Bailey, captain of the SFLC, said the roster was assembled just recently, but a number of players already had solid chemistry as members on another team. Bailey, along with Llewellyn Smalley, Gary Robinson, Tarus Newby and DeSazaeo Johnson, are all members of the Fort Meade Patriots varsity team.

"We have a bunch of guys who like to play together," Bailey said.

Defense, he said, would be the key to the team pulling out three quick wins and climbing to an even record.

"It's actually fun," Bailey said. "It's challenging."

While SFLC was just beginning its season, the NIOC players already had three games under their belt with a 2-1 record after defeating the 780th Cyber Squad and 327th Signal Company.

"We're looking pretty good," said Justin Richard, captain of the NIOC team. "We have a good athletic team with a lot of speed. We just come out, compete and play hard to win."

Allowing 34 points against in its previous three games, NIOC has been working on tightening its defense, said Richard. But despite the recent emphasis on defense, NIOC was unable to stop SFLC from lighting up the scoreboard early in the first half.

While NIOC opened the game working outside the perimeter patiently waiting to attack the paint, SFLC defense -- anchored by Newby and Bailey -- forced quick breaks that resulted in Smalley and Robinson 3-pointers.

Smalley's success hitting nearly every shot from behind the arch set up the SFLC offense to begin playing in the paint. To set up uncontested shots inside, SFLC worked the ball around the outside with crisp passing that appeared to manipulate the NIOC defenders' positioning.

NIOC battled to keep the game within 9 points -- with 10 minutes left in the first half -- behind Ruben Villa's 10 points and Quintone Wallingford's 8. But by feeding Smalley and Robinson behind the arch, SFLC took a commanding 20-point lead with only two minutes left.

Smalley's 33 first-half points, including seven 3-pointers, powered SFLC's 48-30 lead heading into halftime. Robinson added another 8 points in the half.

NIOC set the tone of the second half, opening on a 7-0 run. By tightening the team's defense and pulling down a number of rebounds in the offensive zone, NIOC came back within 11 points in three minutes.

After a slow start in the second half, Smalley and Robinson hit their stride again, sinking 3-pointers to pull SFLC to another 20-point lead midway in the half.

With 10 minutes left in the game, NIOC reverted back to its early second-half strategy by fighting through the paint and playing a rigid defense. NIOC's defense held off the powerful SFLC offense, beginning a 9-2 run behind the efforts of Villa and Wallingford.

Despite the late second-half surge, NIOC could not overcome the deficit. SFLC won 75-58.

Wallingford's 19 points and Villa's 14 kept the game close, but Smalley's 40-point game and Robinson's 11 points led SFLC to the team's first victory.

Robinson said his team needs to focus on its defense after allowing NIOC to continue to come back, but he believes SFLC has enough talent to continue producing wins.

"Things happen when you start 0-3," Robinson said. "Now we're winning three."