Tucker’s big shot at buzzer pushes Terps past Tech

By Bud L. Ellis

Cliff Tucker averages less than six points per game. With one shot, the Maryland guard scored half that many, and moved the Terrapins into second place in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Tucker rolled off a screen and popped a 3-pointer from the left wing Saturday, beating the buzzer and sending the Terps to a heart-stopping 76-74 victory over Georgia Tech.

One of Tucker’s more well-known and accomplished teammates, Greivis Vasquez, broke the 2,000 career point barrier in the game, scoring 18 points. He’s the first ACC player to reach 2,000 points, 700 assists and 600 rebounds in his career.

Maryland moved all alone into second place in the conference, 1 ½ games behind first-place Duke. It didn’t look like it would happen, though, when Georgia Tech’s Derrick Favors scored on a short jumper in the lane with three seconds left to put Maryland down 74-73.

Maryland got the ball to midcourt and called timeout. On the inbounds pass, Tucker got the ball on the left wing and launched his game-winning shot just before the buzzer sounded.

Maryland plays host to Clemson on Wednesday.

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Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 8:16 pm by bud

Tags: Atlantic Coast Conference, Clemson, Cliff Tucker, Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech, Greivis Vasquez, Maryland Terrapins

Terps look to move up in ACC against Jackets

By Bud L. Ellis

Sitting 1 ½ games out of the Atlantic Coast Conference lead, the Maryland Terrapins need all the wins they can get.

Trying to bridge the gap between where the Terps sit – tied for second with Virginia Tech in the ACC – and first-place Duke, Maryland looks to continue its good work Saturday when Georgia Tech comes to town.

The Terps (18-7, 8-3) have won two in a row, knocking off Virginia 85-66 Monday in a make-up game that was postponed Feb. 10 by snow, and N.C. State on Wednesday, 67-58. Maryland has won four of its past five, its only loss an ugly 21-point defeat at Duke on Feb. 13.

Maryland gets another shot at the Devils, March 3 at home. Three of the Terps’ final five games are at home, where Maryland is 12-1 on the season.

Georgia Tech has rode an up-and-down year to a 6-6 mark in ACC play. The Jackets beat North Carolina Tuesday, 68-51, snapping a two-game losing streak.

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Saturday, February 20, 2010 at 7:37 am by bud

Tags: Clemson, Duke, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Maryland, N.C. State, North Carolina, Virginia, Virginia Tech