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Cavaliers Nearly Topple Terps
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January 7, 1999
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Juan Dixon made two free throws with 3.4 secondsleft and No. 5 Maryland survived a sloppy performance to beat Virginia 71-66Thursday night.
Maryland (14-2, 2-1 Atlantic Coast), coming off an 18-point loss at home toNo. 2 Duke, led 62-52 with 5:43 left, but did not make another field goal asthe Cavaliers outscored them 14-9 the rest of the way.
A 3-pointer by Chezley Watson and a three-point play by Adam Hall broughtVirginia to 62-58 with 4:35 left and when the Terrapins missed five of theirnext 12 free throws, Virginia (9-6, 0-3) kept its upset hopes alive.
Donald Hand scored a basket and added four free throws in the last 2:21,walk-on Jason Dowling hit two free throws and, when Laron Profit missed twofree throws with 18.1 seconds left, Virginia had the ball trailing just 69-66.
But Hand’s driving bank shot was off the mark, Maryland came away with therebound and Dixon put an end to the Cavaliers hopes by making two from theline.
Obinna Ekezie and Terence Morris led Maryland with 17 points each and SteveFrancis had 14.
Willie Dersch led the Cavaliers with 15 points and Chris Williams had 14.
The Terrapins shot 48 percent from the field, while Virginia shot 33percent.
Maryland led 37-20 after a first half in which Virginia went 10:56 betweenits first and second field goals and made only 7 of 31 shots overall.
After Chezley Watson opened the scoring by hitting a 10-footer for Virginia,the Cavaliers missed 12 straight shots and had five turnovers before WillieDersch hit a 3-pointer to draw them within 18-7.
By HANK KURZ Jr.
AP Sports Writer