Terps stunned by Michigan State, 85-83

The Maryland Terrapins went from elation to devastatino in an 85-83 loss to the Michigan State Spartans.

The Terps took a one-point lead with just six seconds to go, but a three-point shot by the Spartans went down as the buzzer sounded.

The shot wiped away a 15-point second half comeback by the Terps, who didn’t grab the lead until under a minute remained in the game.

It left Maryland players dazed and later teary-eyed as the locker rooms opened for media access.

It also ended the career of three seniors: Greivis Vasquez, Eric Hayes and Landon Milbourne.

Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 10:48 am by steve

Terps rally, only to fall at buzzer in NCAAs

By Bud L. Ellis

Falling behind by 16 points in the NCAA Tournament was torture for the Maryland Terrapins. But the way their epic surge fell short was even more devastating.

The ACC co-regular season champions and No. 4 seed in the Midwest Regional saw its season end in excruciating fashion Sunday. Korie Lucious nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer for Michigan State, sending the Spartans into the Sweet 16 and stopping Maryland’s season in a heart-pounding 85-83 second-round thriller in Spokane, Wash.

Maryland (24-9) found itself down 67-51 with 12 minutes to go. But Greivis Vasquez willed the Terps back into the game. He led the Terps with 26 points, including nine of Maryland’s final 11.

His basket with six seconds left put Maryland ahead 83-82, and all the Terps needed was one defensive stop to punch their ticket to the regional semifinals. But the Spartans pushed the ball up the floor to Lucious, who knocked down the game-winning shot as time ran out on the game, and on Maryland’s season.

Maryland shot just 43.9 percent and could’ve been blown out, but rallied. Still, it’s a bitter loss for a team that entered the ACC tournament having won seven in a row, only to lose twice in three postseason games.

Jordan Williams pulled down 10 rebounds for Maryland. He also scored 10 points. Eric Hayes scored 18 points and Landon Milbourne added 11 for the Terps.

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Monday, March 22, 2010 at 6:28 pm by bud

Tags: Atlantic Coast Conference, Eric Hayes, Greivis Vasquez, Jordan Williams, Korie Lucious, Landon Milbourne, Maryland Terrapins, Michigan State, NCAA Tournament

Terps wear down Houston, 89-77

The Maryland Terrapins overcame a shaky first half to pull away from the pesky Houston Cougars, 89-77.

The Terps seemed a little unnerved early in the contest by the athleticism and quickness of Houston, but the second half was an entirely different story.

Maryland pushed the ball up the court at every possible opportunity, taking full advantage of very skaky and even lazy transition defense by Houston.

Jordan Williams got the ball early and often in the second half, finishing with 21 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Terps. It was a monster game from the still-developing freshman.

The victory sets up one of the most intriguing second round matchups of the tournament as the Terrapins face off against the Michigan State Spartans.

Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 6:09 pm by steve

Terps fall to Yellow Jackets, 69-64

The Maryland Terrapins fell behind by 19 points in the first half and couldn’t catch up in a 69-64 loss to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Maryland described their first-half play as embarassing and came out in the second half with a purpose.

They quickly cut into the Georgia Tech lead thanks to an aggressive full-court press that forced a bunch of turnovers.

The Terps got the lead down to within a couple of points a few different times, but they could never get over the hump.

Greivis Vasquez had a chance to tie the game with a three-pointer with the clock winding down, but he was stripped of the ball on a play that could have been called a foul.

at 9:43 am by steve

Terps’ ACC dreams end against Georgia Tech

By Bud L. Ellis

After a 23-win regular season, a share of the top record in the Atlantic Coast Conference, this is not what the Maryland Terrapins expected.

A 19-point deficit. A frenzied rally, only to fall short. A chance to tie the game with the conference player of the year with the ball in his hands, only to see it stripped away.

Maryland’s ACC tournament frustration continued Friday night, the Terps falling to Georgia Tech 69-64 to bounce the Terps from the conference tourney.

Greivis Vasquez had a chance with six seconds left, Maryland down by three points. But Vasquez was stripped of the ball, Georgia Tech hit two free throws in the final seconds and suddenly, Maryland’s dreams of a conference title and a No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament lost.

Maryland fought back from a 19-point deficit to close the gap in the final minutes. But the Terps couldn’t get over the hump at the finish, seeing their seven-game winning streak come to an end.

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Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 12:45 am by bud

Tags: Atlantic Coast Conference, Georgia Tech, Greivis Vasquez, Maryland Terrapins

Terps ready for rematch with Tech in ACC tourney opener

By Bud L. Ellis

Back on Feb. 20, it looked like the Maryland Terrapins’ modest two-game winning streak was about to expire.

Georgia Tech had just taken a one-point lead with three seconds left. But Maryland got the ball to guard Cliff Tucker, who drained a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give the Terps a thrilling 76-74 victory.

Maryland hasn’t looked back since, and rides a seven-game winning streak into Friday’s Atlantic Coast Conference tournament opener against Georgia Tech at Greensboro Coliseum.

The Terps (23-7) finished tied with Duke for first in the ACC at 13-3, handing the Devils a 79-72 victory March 3. Greivis Vasquez, the ACC’s player of the year, comes into the tournament second in the conference in scoring (19.6 points per game) and first in assists (6.3 assists per contest).

Maryland comes into the postseason as one of the nation’s hottest teams, having won nine of its past 10 and 13 out of its past 15.

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Friday, March 12, 2010 at 8:15 pm by bud

Tags: Atlantic Coast Conference, Cliff Tucker, Georgia Tech, Greensboro Coliseum, Greivis Vasquez, Maryland Terrapins

Terps football to play Notre Dame in 2011

The Maryland Terrapins football team will take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on November 12, 2011 at FedEx Field in Landover.

Despite being just 11 miles from the University of Maryland campus, it will be considered an away game for the Terps.

It’s certainly a great opportunity for Maryland to play a storied program in front of a national audience.

It will also help recruiting from the standpoint that high school players will see the Terps take on a big-time team on a big stage.

Head coach Ralph Friedgen typically prefers to load his schedule with local rivalries, but he is excited about the opportunity.

at 7:04 pm by steve

Terps win ACC championship

It wasn’t easy, at least certainly much harder than it needed to be, but the Maryland Terrapins escaped with a 74-68 victory over the host Virginia Cavaliers to win the ACC regular season title.

The Terps led by double-digits for much of the game until midway through the second half, when the tide really started to turn.

Maryland couldn’t seem to get anything to fall into the basket, while the Virginia Cavaliers became scorching hot from behind the three-point line.

Greivis Vasquez knocked down three critical three-pointers in the final five minutes to help the Terps, who really didn’t get the benefit of too many calls in the game.

The Terps were able to put away the win when Virginia head coach Tony Bennett chucked his jacket on the court in protest of a call in the final minute and was given a technical.

Sunday, March 7, 2010 at 8:47 am by steve

Terps take down Duke, 79-72

The No. 23 Maryland Terrapins finally got a marquee win on their resume with a 79-72 victory over the No. 4 Duke Blue Devils.

Greivis Vasquez scored 20 points, including a couple of big shots down the stretch, to lead Maryland.

Jordan Williams finished with 15 points and 11 rebound despite having to combat all of the big men Duke threw his way.

Adrian Bowie provided a huge spark off of the bench in the second half, finishing with nine points.

The win moves the Terps into a first-place tie with Duke in the ACC with just one game left to play.

Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 8:34 pm by steve

Terps outlast Virginia Tech, 104-100

The Maryland Terrapins waited three hours just for the game to start, and then it took almost another three hours to pull out a 104-100, 2 OT win over the Virginia Tech Hokies.

The Terps found themselves trailing much of the first half before grabbing control of the game after halftime.

It appeared as though the Terps have pulled out a victory until Landon Milbourne made a huge mistake by throwing away an inbounds pass late in the game.

The Terps then had a chance to win in the first overtime, but Greivis Vasquez missed a game-winning shot attempt.

Maryland finally was able to put the game away in the second overtime, but not before Virginia Tech missed a three-point attempt that could have won it for them.

at 9:25 am by steve