With North Carolina down just four with 13 minutes to play, no one would have expected Carolina would lose by 21 points, the Tar Heels largest margin of defeat this season. But in just two minutes, Maryland went on a 10-0 run to go up by 14 and went on to defeat the Heels 92-71 in snowy College Park. (2/7)
The loss drops the Tar Heels to 13-10 overall and puts them in great danger of not making the NCAA tournament as Terrapin fans reminded the Heels over and over with poor sportsmanship chats of "N-I-T, N-I-T." Of course, the Terrapins know a little more about the NIT than the Heels do.
The loss was the fourth in the last five times against Maryland and the seventh time Carolina has lost on a Super Bowl Sunday.
Maryland hit seven of its first nine tries from three-point land and threatened to blow the Heels out early, working up a 32-16 advantage. But the Tar Heels chipped away and after Leslie McDonald sank a long two, Carolina was within four at 34-30.
Down 10 at the half at 44-34, the Tar Heels trimmed it to just five by the first TV timeout after John Henson threw down a driving dunk to make it 52-47. Less than two minutes later, UNC's Will Graves scored in the lane to draw it to three at 54-51.
Behind by just four at 58-54, Maryland sank a couple of threes and Carolina turned the ball over a couple of times and quickly it was 68-54. That 10-0 run was just part of a 34-17 run throughout the remainder of the game.
Maryland, which shot more than 60 percent in the second half, had 16 second-half fastbreak points compared to just two for Carolina. Greivis Vasquez had 26 points and 11 assists to lead the Terrapins (16-6, 6-2) while Marcus Ginyard got his shooting eye back to score 17 to lead Carolina.
"To say we're struggling would the the biggest understatement of my life," UNC coach Roy Williams said. "But no one is going to feel sorry for us."
Williams said it's not comfortable to be 2-6 in ACC play. "I've never been in this situation before," he said. "It's not good."
Carolina hosts rival Duke Wednesday night. |
