Well it wasn’t an easy game for the Terrapins, but Maryland pulled off what seemed to be an improbable win against NC State. The final, 67-58, doesn’t sum up what actually happened in the game. It was definitely an affair where Terrapin fans may have chewed their nails all game long.
Maryland came out extremely flat in the first half in which they were only able to score 27 points. Eric Hayes struggled all night ending up scoreless. Wednesday night’s first half rivaled Saturday’s poor play at Duke. The first half was filled with turnovers, missed field goals and missed free throws.
However, when the second half came, the Wolfpack went up by 12 and then Maryland turned it on. The Terps scored 40 points in the second half while limiting NC State to just 21 points. Greivis Vasquez went off for 17 points, but did have one or two really bad shots. Vasquez got some unexpected help from reserve guard Adrian Bowie and freshman center Jordan Williams. Bowie hit two huge threes and Williams stepped up his defense.
The only really bad part of the entire game was Maryland’s free throws. Maryland missed seven free throws. Even Maryland’s best shooters missed their shots from the line. I will attribute Maryland’s woes at the line to tired legs from playing three games in five days.
The win moves Maryland to 18-7 overall and 8-3 and tied for second in the ACC. They have two straight home games against Georgia Tech and a rematch with Clemson. Beating those two teams, at least to me, would lock Maryland in to the NCAA field and get very close to earning a bye in the first round of the ACC Tournament. With each win, especially those on the road, Maryland gets closer to their goal of making the NCAAs.
I caught about 10 minutes of the game and it just happened to be the final 10 minutes of the 1st half. It was bad. Thankfully, they were playing an awful team and they found away to comeback. NC State is horrible.
There was a game on? I was too busy drinking The Love from Starr Hill Brewery and watching European women take tough tumbles down Whistler.
It was a nice comeback but as byrdman said, NC State is horrible.
They contributed to the comeback just as much as MD did.
Paging Herb Sendeck. The Wolfpack faithful are sorry and want you back!!!!
I think that this is a very special Maryland club this year and its too bad that they will be losing 3 seniors after this year. You can see that Gary Williams team thrive on having an inside presence and veteran guard play just look at the National Championship year. We all know that Vasquez is the heart and soul of this team but I think the player with the next highest impact is Jordan Williams. Maryland hasnt had a player like Williams since the days of Baxter, Holden and Randle. Its not a coincidence that Maryland is thriving right now. Think about it…..although this team is no where near as good as the National Championship team they have a very strong resemblence. Eric Hayes has the same drive that Steve Blake did and is able to hit a 3 at anytime…..Although Vasquez is not as good as Dixon, he has the ability to change a game at anytime. This is an exciting season to say the least watch out ACC come tournament time cause the Terps are here to stay!
Hawk,
I love that unbridled optimism. I think they are what there record says, a third place team in the ACC. I don't say that to be negative, it's just that Duke is Duke and it's going to be tough to unseat a team loaded with McDonals's All Americans. I'm hoping MD gets a decent seeding and heads in a bracket opposite Duke. I think a nice goal would be the Sweet 16, beyond that would be a miracle.
BSR Auditors…Think you better check on the validity of the impostor who just posted the above entry! Surely, the real STG wouldn't put forth the idea of being happy to basically sneak in to the post-season and maybe win a game or two! Oh, wait. Maybe he's on to something. Why would anyone ever expect / demand more out of the Men's Basketball Program at College Park? After all, they have a Hall of Fame Coach who's taken three Programs to the Sweet 16 and revived a moribound Program to win a Sears Trophy at his Alma Mater. They play their home games in a fabulous new Arena. They play in what is historically the best amateur basketball conference in the World. How on Earth could a University of such limited resources ever be expected to consistently be a Top 20 Program? That would be totally unreasonable, right? Come on!
Bruz,
I didn't say I'd be happy about it. As you've pointed out before, for whatever reason, arrogance the most likely reason, Williams typically does not go after the blue chippers or is unable to land them. He puts together blue collar clubs that have to scrape and claw for every victory. I'm not happy about it, just resigned to it.
I love that Jordan Williams is a freshman and getting better every game. Anyone get a glance at Singlers shiner he picked up in practice.