Red-hot shooting propels Maryland to needed win
Gary Williams called a spur-of-the-moment shoot-around Monday morning. After Tuesday night, it might become an everyday routine for the Terrapins.
Maryland opened Tuesday with its best shooting half of the season, needing it to hold on against a pesky Virginia team in a 84-78, Atlantic Coast Conference victory at Comcast Center.
The Terrapins (13-5 overall, 2-2 conference) shot 58.6 percent (17-of-29) in the first half, closing on a 12-2 run — including a 12-0 run in a three-minute stretch — to build a 45-30 advantage at the intermission. Virginia (7-8 overall, 1-3 conference) battled back to within two points with as little as 5:05 remaining in regulation, but the Terrapins held on to send the Cavaliers to a third straight loss.
Maryland, which visits Duke Saturday in a noon game televised on ESPN, led by as many as 17 late in the first half.
Sophomore Adrian Bowie scored 13 of his 17 in the first half, as four Terrapins finished in double figures. Junior forward Landon Milbourne scored 15 of his 17 in the second half. Junior guard Greivis Vasquez scored 16 and junior guard Eric Hayes had 10 with a career-high 11 assists.
Jamil Tucker led the Cavaliers with 21 points.
Maryland senior forward Dave Neal suffered a cut above his left eye early in the first half. He scored the team’s first five points in the opening three minutes, and returned to the Maryland bench with an ice pack in hand early in the second half.
The Terrapins interior got into foul trouble without Neal’s veteran presence, and sophomore Dino Gregory fouled out with 5:05 to play, forcing Neal’s permanent return.
The senior hit a clutch three-pointer with 4:52 remaining to spark a 9-2 run after Virginia pulled to within two points.
The victory was the 400th ACC win in Maryland history.
