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Terps Are Slipping Out of the Picture
Despite Gary Williams' impassioned pleas, Maryland looks like a team that will miss the NCAA tournament for the second straight season.
(Mark Wallheiser - Reuters)
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Strawberry picked up the foul, Thornton made the free throw and the gap widened to double digits again.
"They did a really good job at sustaining the lead," said Maryland forward Nik Caner-Medley, who scored a team-high 19 points. "Every time we tried to fight our way back in, they just had counter shots and counter runs, so we never could really go on a run."
Williams employed a 1-3-1 zone for the final five minutes before halftime in an attempt to avoid further foul trouble. Starting forward James Gist picked up two fouls in the first three minutes and sat the rest of the half. Reserve forward Travis Garrison also had two fouls.
Starting guard Mike Jones picked up his third foul of the half when he fouled Isaiah Swann on a three-point attempt. Thirteen seconds later, center Ekene Ibekwe was whistled for his third foul, which seemed to be Maryland's most pressing problem.
For most of the first half, Ibekwe played sound and aggressive defense on Thornton, Florida State's leading scorer this season. Early in the game, Ibekwe broke up a two-on-one fast break when Florida State looked to get the ball to Thornton for a dunk. Later, Thornton tried to drive on Ibekwe but the Maryland junior blocked the shot and kept possession of the ball.
Just as Maryland threatened to tie the game midway through the opening half, Florida State reserve Jerel Allen responded with six straight points -- a three-pointer and a three-point play -- to help give the Seminoles a nine-point advantage that would only grow.
The Terps have struggled the last seven weeks with their perimeter defense but particularly since losing their best defender, Chris McCray, who was ruled academically ineligible Jan. 23. Last night proved no exception, and Florida State made six three-pointers in the first half.
"Well," Williams said, "it has been an interesting year."
