The question entering this season for the Maryland Terrapins was how they would replace Greivis Vasquez.
For one night at least, freshman Pe’Shon Howard — wearing Vasquez’s old No. 21 — had the answer.
The 6-foot-3 guard hit a 15-foot fadeaway shot with five seconds left, lifting Maryland to a 75-74 victory over College of Charleston on Wednesday night at Comcast Center.
Freshmen aren’t supposed to take the last shot, especially if they’re not in the starting lineup. But Maryland put the ball in Howard’s hands as the clock wound down with the Terps on the verge of being upset by the Southern Conference squad.
Howard worked off a pick by forward Jordan Williams (26 points, 15 rebounds), dribbled down the right side of the lane, freed himself with a spin move and swished a step-back jumper.
“He’s a tough guy. He’s got a lot of courage,” Maryland coach Gary Williams said. “In his mind, he was going to hit that shot.”
Howard (14 points) also hit an important jumper with 1:22 left that drew the Terps within 74-72. After Williams hit one of two free throws with 55 seconds left, Charleston’s Andrew Goudelock (27 points, 10 rebounds) missed a jumper, setting the scene for Howard’s heroics.
The shot saved the Terps on a night when they played uninspired basketball and missed 13 of 18 free throws. Making the win possible, however, was a determined defensive effort as the Terps held the Cougars without a basket in the final 8:41.
Maryland (2-0) also survived thanks to senior guard Cliff Tucker (15 points), who had three baskets in the final eight minutes.
