Terps Escape Tiger Upset Bid, 104-92 |
CLEMSON - The last thing Maryland expected if it could score 100 against
Clemson Tuesday night was a game. No. 17 Maryland outscored Clemson 104-92 in front of 4,000 at Littlejohn Coliseum, but didn't put the game away until the final minute when the Terps were 8-8 from the line and Clemson couldn't hit a 3-pointer. "I was surprised, to be honest, that they could stay with us playing that way," said Maryland coach Gary Williams. Only once has Maryland (10-3 overall, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) scored that many points more points on the road in the Atlantic Coast Conference (the Terps scored 104 against Duke in 1975) and Clemson (9-5, 0-1) had not given up 104 points in a conference game at home in six years. Still, Clemson was prepared for a track meet. Will Solomon scored 32, hitting seven of 11 from 3-point range. He had just one look at the basket in the final minute, however. Clemson went on a 9-2 run to cut the lead to 96-92 with a 3-pointer by Will Solomon with 1:51 left in the game. Clemson, however, didn't score again. The Tigers missed four 3-pointers while Maryland hit eight straight free throws in the final 1:39 of the game. "Every game I've been involved in here has been close, so I don't know why I should be surprised by this," said Williams. Clemson took its first lead of the night, 67-65, on a 3-pointer by freshman Dwon Clifton with 16:59 left in the game. Maryland got into foul trouble was forced to go to a zone midway through the half and slow down the tempo. Terp guard Steve Blake was called for his fourth foul with 15:42 left in the game and five Maryland players finished with at least three fouls. Clemson didn't score for nearly four minutes while Maryland slowed the pace. Chris Hobbs hit a free throw with 8:05 left in the game. Maryland scored seven points during Clemson's drought. Clemson pulled within one (83-82) on a 3-pointer by Solomon with 9:24 left in the game. Maryland went on a 7-1 run to take a 90-83 lead with 7:12 left on a pair of free throws by Juan Dixon. Clemson didn't score four nearly four minutes after a free throw by Chris Hobbs with 8:05 left in the game. Maryland slowed its offensive pace and scored just seven points during Clemson's drought. Ray Henderson hit a free throw to cut Maryland's lead to 92-84 with 4:22 left. "I think we let people know we can score and it's going to be hard for people to press us if that's their game," said freshman guard Tony Stockman, who finished with 12 points for the Tigers. Clemson scored 56 points in the first half, more than it's scored in a half this year, yet still trailed by three, 59-56. Maryland hit six of its first eight shots and took an early 14-6 lead, but Clemson never let the game get away although Maryland led by as many as ten in the first half. The Terps led 24-14 lead on a 3-pointer by Danny Miller with 13:48 left in the first half. Clemson then went on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to 24-23 on a lay-up and free throw by Chris Hobbs with 12:18 left in the half. Maryland had nine turnovers in the first half and three in a two minute span to help Clemson erase a six point lead. Clemson went on a 6-0 run to tie the game, 39-39, with 6:11 left in the half on a 3-pointer by Will Solomon, who finished the first half with 19 points. Juan Dixon scored 18 and Lonny Baxter scored 17 in the first half. Terp guard Steve Blake spent much of the first half on the bench with foul trouble. Maryland hit 62 percent of its shots in the first half. BOX SCORE (17) Maryland 104, CLEMSON 92
MARYLAND (10-3)
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