Terrapins button up Jackets

February 08, 2009|By PAUL NEWBERRY

ATLANTA -- Greivis Vasquez scored 19 points and Maryland held off Georgia Tech at the buzzer for its eighth straight victory over the Yellow Jackets, 57-56 on Sunday night.

Georgia Tech had two chances at the win after Eric Hayes missed the first free throw of a 1-and-1 with 16.7 seconds left. Georgia Tech's Lewis Clinch missed on a drive in the lane, but teammate Iman Shumpert chased down the long rebound in the corner and managed to get off a 3-pointer. It was a little long, bouncing high off the rim as the horn sounded.

Maryland (15-8, 4-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) swept the season series and extended its domination of the Yellow Jackets (10-12, 1-8), who haven't beaten the Terrapins since the 2003-04 season. Georgia Tech committed 24 turnovers.

Shumpert scored 13 points for the Yellow Jackets, while Hayes added 15 points for Maryland.

The Terps won the season's first matchup with Georgia Tech, 68-61, benefiting from a season-high 28 turnovers by the Yellow Jackets. Maryland won that game despite shooting only 32 percent from field, including 5 of 26 from 3-point range, and getting dominated on the boards, 49-39.

Georgia Tech wasn't much better at taking care of the ball in the rematch, turning it over 12 times in each half to hand Maryland 21 points. The Terps shot 36 percent (19 of 53) in this one -- again, good enough to win.

Maryland built a 10-point lead in the first half, but Lance Storrs hit two straight 3-pointers from the corner and Georgia Tech was only down 31-29 at the break.

The second half was close all the way, with five ties and seven lead changes. The biggest margin over the final 20 minutes was four points.

Zachery Peacock gave Georgia Tech its final lead, hitting a jumper that made it 49-47 with 6:26 left. But Maryland scored six straight points as the Yellow Jackets committed turnovers on three straight offensive possessions.

Vasquez hit a pair of free throws with just under one minute remaining that provided the winning margin. Peacock made two foul shots with 18 seconds left to give Georgia Tech a chance, and Hayes' missed free throw gave the home team a shot at winning it.

Clinch had the best opportunity, but his pull-up jumper from right at the foul line was a little short. Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt tried to call a timeout, but Shumpert took the shot before the officials looked toward the bench.

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