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

Issue date: 2/4/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Adam Fried

ATLANTA - Even Jack Bauer would struggle to deal with the twists the Terrapin men's basketball team seems to throw at fans every game.

In fact, the way the Terps are going, you might as well relabel conference play 24. That's how much drama has been involved in the team's first seven ACC games.

Saturday was no different than every other game has been as of late. The most recent raise-your-blood-pressure, pull-out-your-hair, scream-at-the-TV game was an 88-86 win at Georgia Tech. The Terps outplayed the Yellow Jackets for almost the entire game and looked like a far superior team. Yet when the final buzzer sounded, a last-second, potential-game-winning shot was in the air.

"It's never easy," senior forward James Gist said, as he chuckled and shook his head. "This was a suspenseful game - too close for comfort. I didn't know what was around the next corner."

Even after the Terps (14-8, 4-3 ACC) let Georgia Tech (10-10, 3-4) cut a 12-point lead to two early in the second half, they quickly rebuilt it back to double digits. So when the Terps led by 10 with 1:24 left, a stressful ending seemed like more of a longshot than a three-legged horse winning the Kentucky Derby.

In the final 1:56, the Terps had four turnovers, missed 3-of-7 free throws and were outscored 10-3. But since the Terps had built a decent-sized lead, they survived and left Alexander Memorial Coliseum with their fourth win in the past five games.

"When you're on the road, nobody's worried about how it looks," coach Gary Williams said. "You just want to try to get out with a win, and we were able to do that today."

It was the Terps' sixth straight victory over the Yellow Jackets, who came in on a three-game winning streak. In their seven ACC games, the Terps have outscored opponents by a combined eight points.

For the second straight game, all five starters scored in double digits, as the Terps never trailed.

Senior center Bambale Osby led the way with 18 points and 11 rebounds, his fourth double-double during conference play. But Osby left his biggest mark at the free-throw line, where he smoothly went 8 for 9.

After the usually-automatic Eric Hayes missed the front end of a one-and-one, Osby muscled his way into the block down low and corralled the offensive rebound. He was fouled and went to the line for another one-and-one, where he calmly knocked down both shots to give the Terps a five point lead with 17 seconds left.

Continued...

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