CHARLOTTE, N.C. - It took five minutes for Boston College to look like a team with no chance to win. The Eagles spent the next 35 becoming a team that could.
No. 11-seed BC overcame a double-digit deficit in the second half to pull off a 71-68 upset of sixth-seeded Maryland, which saw its NCAA at-large hopes all but vanish.
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. - After a terrible stretch when nothing went right, Maryland got layups on two straight possessions to take a one-point lead over the Eagles. But then Rakim Sanders answered with a 3-pointer for BC to put his team up 52-50 with 6:42 to go. Every time I say this it doesn't happen, but here goes: this one could come down to the last shot.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Tyrese Rice has nine points so far this half, but he's not alone in getting things done for Boston College. The Eagles have cut Maryland's lead to one with 13:19 to go, and the Terps can't buy a bucket. As demoralized as BC looked earlier, that's how the Terrapins look now.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - If Boston College is upset at the numbers on the scoreboard at halftime, it should be glad things aren't even worse. The Eagles shot 30percent in the first half and turned the ball over nine times.
Maryland on the other hand shot 52 percent -- and that was after cooling off. Yet somehow, the Eagles only trailed by six, 31-25, at the break. All things considered, the Eagles aren't in nearly as bad shape as they could be.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Maryland started out 9 of first 13 but followed that with 1 of next 7 -- and still had a double-figure lead. That was until Boston College got its act together on offense. Biko Paris nailed a three that cut the lead to six with five minutes to go in the first half and prompted a timeout. BC just got another bucket, and it's 24-20 now.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Maryland hasn't scored in a while, but they still hold an 11-point lead, and James Gist just added to his personal highlight reel with a ridiculous block that presumably went through the chest of someone in the third row, ripping out their still beating heart and knocking it into a box of popcorn. Well, I said "presumably." Either way, it was nasty to quite nasty.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - James Gist has eight points in the last two minutes, and that Maryland lead has grown even more. Now they're up 20-5.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - It's interesting to watch Maryland's Greivis Vasquez guard Tyrese Rice, Boston College's best (and arguably only, at times) offensive threat. Vasquez is using his size to prevent Rice from getting off shots while staying with him around the perimeter.
And as the Eagles attempt to pass it around to other guys, the Terrapins are jumping out in passing lanes, getting steals and easy buckets -- like James Gist's thunderous dunk a minute ago. Maryland is enjoying a 15-5 lead here at the 14:43 mark thanks to hitting 7 of its first 10 shots.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - We're ready to go with the final game of the day here at the ACC Tournament, with No. 6-seed Maryland taking on 11th-seeded Boston College. In fact, the ball just went up, and players are already on the floor. Hopefully this last one will be a fun, scrappy one.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Missouri has held on for the win over Maryland.
Maryland seemed so close to taking control of the game but just couldn't get over that last hurdle. Missouri always had some little answer, whether it was a leaner in the lane by Stefon Hannah, a drive by Leo Lyons, or a steal by Keon Lawrence.
The Tigers were just one step ahead of Maryland. The score, 84-70, really doesn't do the game justice, as it was padded with free throws at the end.
Missouri showed that its brand of three-guard ball with little inside presence can still win games. However, that is against a Maryland team that is built similarily, yet plays a different style.
The real question for the Tigerse is whether post players like DeMarre Carroll will be able to stay out of foul trouble and Darryl Butterfield will start playing down low instead of hanging out 15 feet away from the basket. If Missouri can do that, they might survive the season ahead in the Big 12.
Maryland is just one star player away from being a very good team. At the end of the season, they could prove to be a dangerous team poised for a small run through the ACC Tournament or NCAA Tournament.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Grievis Vasquez seems to want to take this game into his own hands, and he is doing just that. Vasquez drew DeMarre Carroll's fifth foul a mere 10 seconds after Carroll rentered the game. Maryland has moved back into their own full court press and are trapping. Missouri is trying to sit on the ball and run the clock down as the Tigers are still clinging to a 72-67 lead with 1:46 left.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- With 5:30 left and Maryland threatening, only down by five, Missouri can't help but play sloppy ball. Mike Anderson had to call a 30-second timeout to regroup his team for the final push.
Darryl Butterfield came up huge for the Tigers scoring on a traditional three-point play, as Missouri has gone back into their full court press and is putting the game into the hands of their guards, Keon Lawrence and Stefon Hannah.
Greivis Vasquez and Eric Hayes have shown that they can easily break the press, and now it's whether they can translate that into points that will determine the game.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Every time Missouri tries to pull away, Maryland has an answer. The Terrapins seem to be getting closer and closer to taking the lead, as they are just a few defensive stops away from getting there.
Stefon Hannah of Missouri made a few bad decisions driving to the hoop and trying to draw the foul but ended up turning it over instead. Maryland has a chance to make it a one-possesion game with the scoreboard reading Missouri 63, Maryland 58.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Missouri seems to have righted the ship, but only due to the insertion of Stefon Hannah back into the lineup.
WIth Hannah in the lineup, that freed up Keon Lawrence, who answered with two straight field goals. MIssouri is back up by eight, but I think the slowed pace of the game favors Maryland.
Maryland seems to have the upper hand when it comes to rebounding and blocking out, and with Missouri continuing to drive the lane, that could prove to be the difference-maker.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.-- In the span of two mintues, DeMarre Carroll has commited two fouls and earned himself a spot on the bench, leaving a huge hole in Missouri's frontcourt.
Even though Missouri still has a four-point lead, Maryland seems to be slowly taking over the game. The Terps have slowed things down and taken Missouri out of their fast-paced game. It's almost as if Missouri is afraid to go with the press again and is playing timid right now.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Missouri has come out of the locker room for the second half a little cold.
Maryland has gone to the inside and Bambale Osby to pull within four, 45-41. Maryland's defense has seemec to step up and slow the game down. Maryland is playing more of a half-court game now to set up the inside play.
DeMarre Carroll, one of Missouri's big men, has just picked up his third foul three minutes into the second half.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Leo Lyons continues his impressive first half, putting up 13 points.
Maryland has gone to a full court press that led to a Missouri turnover and quick basket. The Tigers are quick to respond, though. As the first half winds down, both teams are in run-and-gun mode, but Maryland pushed it too hard and got called for an offensive foul.
Maryland seems to be trying to make one too many passes and driving too deep into Missouri's defense, causing offensive fouls and turnovers. Missouri is holding for the last shot and...travels
At the end of the first half, Missouri leads by six, 43-37.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Just when I thought Missouri remembered how to play the low post, they break down defensively. The Tigers just allowed Bambale Osby to score two straight baskets underneath, prompting Mike Anderson to call a 30-second timeout to regroup.
Missouri responded well with a three-point play from Leo Lyons, then a steal from the full court press and a basket by Stefon Hannah. Leo Lyons continues his low post dominance by scoring another field goal. It's Gary Williams' turn to call a timeout now.
It's Missouri 36, Maryland 25 with 5:28 left in the first half.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Missouri looks like a different team from the one that almost came back to beat Michiagn State last night. They are more patient on the offensive end showing excellent ball movement and not just driving for the hoop.
Maryland has gone to a full-court press to give Missouri a taste of their own medicine, and it worked. Jason Horton lost the ball for a backcourt violation. Maryland failed to capitalize, though, commiting an offensive foul.
Gary Williams' team seems to be just barely out of sync. His players are making hasty decisions on the offensive end, but once again, defense bails them out with a huge block. The score is Missouri 29, Maryland 21.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Against Michigan State last night, Missouri seemed to abandon the inside game, instead of settling for drives and three-pointers. Leo Lyons and DeMarre Carroll have established an early presence inside for the Tigers.
Missouri is also breaking down Maryland's backcourt game, which they were unable to do against Michigan State. Maryland needs an increase of defensive pressure from their big guys, more importantly shotblocker Bambale Osby.
Missouri maintains a nine-point lead, 25-16.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Missouri is playing like it is the championship game of the CBE Classic. They currently lead Maryland by five with 15:30 left in the first half. The Sprint Center is only about 1/4 full, but still is largely made up of Missouri fans.
DeMarre Carroll continues to impress in the first few games of his Missouri career. Grievous Vasquez once again seems to be Maryland's only offensive spark.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Sprint Center may be a state of the art brand new arena, but they still haven't worked everything out with their wireless internet. UCLA pulled out the victory 71-59 over Maryland.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Dare I say Maryland is putting together a little run? The Terps have cut the score to 46-35 with 10:18 left in the half.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Maryland has gone to a 3/4 court press in an effort to get back into this game, but UCLA's guards have been to easily break the press. Kevin Love once again continues to shine, the freshman has 12 points, but has shown an impressive versatility that includes a perimeter game.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.- Kevin Love is following up his buzzer beater at the end of the first half with some strong play. Ucla has opened up a 14 point lead over Gary William's Terps.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kevin Love just nailed a 3 pointer, and in no way did it look like it was shot by a 6'10" center. Sophomore Bruin's guard Russel Westbrook has an incredibly intricately shaved mohawk that lookes like it took about 3 hours, and he is putting it to use driving to the basket for a dunk and drawing the foul.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Neither team is showing much offensive prowess. UCLA is playing the tough defense that Coach Ben Howland is known for, while Maryland is mathcing that. Unfortunately it is leading to a 22-15 game in favor of the Bruins with 3:22 left in the first half.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A 6:00 p.m. Central start time and no where to park, along with rush hour traffic, means a half full Sprint Center. UCLA has a four-point lead over Maryland. Bruin freshman star Kevin Love has two points so far in the game but looks impressive crashing the boards.
