Diamondback Online - The University of Maryland's Independent Daily Student Newspaper

Media Credit: Pouya Dianat

In the style of an old-fashioned shootout, the Terrapin men's basketball team and North Carolina chased each other up and down the floor. Trading baskets back and forth, the teams looked like they were playing with the fast-forward button held down.

Along the way, it looked like the Terps would succumb to North Carolina's astonishing depth, but D.J. Strawberry provided the spark and the Terps found enough energy to come from behind and turn the court into a moshpit.

Somehow able to overcome fatigue, the Terps rallied from two double-digit deficits and beat the No. 5-ranked team in the nation 89-87 at Comcast Center last night.

It was a win that could only be summed up by the unfettered joy on the faces and in the movements of the Terps, who partied with the mob of students at center court after the final buzzer. Freshman Greivis Vasquez jumped up and down on the edge of the crowd, clutching the ball and slapping every outstretched hand he saw on his way back to the locker room.

The emotional excitement was something that had built up over the last few weeks, as this win pretty much clinched the Terps' trip to the NCAA tournament.

"We just tried to make people believe that we're gonna be good," Vasquez said. "We were down in the ACC 2-5 and now we're 8-6. That's pretty good."

Last night, the Terps didn't have to be the better team for all 40 minutes, even though senior guard D.J. Strawberry was clearly the best player on the floor with his career-high 27 points.

There were stints where North Carolina (24-5, 10-4 ACC) showed off its immense talent and extended the lead to double-digits. The Terps were literally out of breath, and the deep Tar Heels were in the perfect situation - up 10 on a tired opponent with eight minutes left.

Then, North Carolina's Bobby Frasor made a disastrous mistake. Frasor ran down the court on a fast break and missed an uncontested layup, and the Terps capitalized. Senior guard Mike Jones hit a 3-pointer, followed by another one from Strawberry the next time down the court.

"That gives you a little better feeling about yourself," coach Gary Williams said. "You're just looking for positive things when you're down like that."

Quickly bringing the crowd back to life, Jones finished the improbable comeback minutes later, hitting a jumper in the lane to give the Terps (22-7, 8-6 ACC) their first lead of the game. Vasquez praised Jones (18 points) for bringing the Terps back, but Jones said he's never heard Comcast Center any louder than it was late in the game last night.

"That's what got us going. It gave people confidence to make shots." Jones said. "Close to the end, the last couple shots I hit, the crowd gave me the confidence. I just knew after a while the shots were gonna go in."

And did they ever. The Terps shot 64.3 percent from the field in the second half, while making some key stops that ignited their run. By the game's end, five players were in double figures.

Still, it was an incredible accomplishment for the Terps to even be in the game at that point. North Carolina played 12 guys - their usual rotation - and Gary Williams had to keep up, substituting players in and out of the game just as often. Bambale Osby said those quick substitutions allowed the Terps to hang with the Tar Heels late, but Williams credited something less tangible.

"There comes a time where you have to be able to run on adrenaline even if you're tired," Williams said.

The Terps used up a ton of energy down low out-rebounding the Tar Heels, who were ranked No. 1 in the nation in rebounding margin. The Terps finished with a 46-33 rebounding advantage and still had enough energy left to outplay North Carolina in the final minutes to get the victory.

Asserting themselves with a signature win over a top-five team, the Terps put themselves in position not only to think - and talk - about the NCAA tournament, but to think about how much more this team can do.

"Well, it definitely puts us in a better situation," Jones said. "I think after last game we might've still been in it, but this game most likely sealed the deal."

And after last night's win made it five in a row, the Terps will have to look hard to find anyone who disagrees.

Contact reporter Stephen Whyno at whynodbk@gmail.com.

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