ACC Basketball Roundup
Published 12:00 am Saturday, January 15, 2011
Associated Press
The ACC roundup …
PHILADELPHIA ó Maalik Wayns never kept count. As the numbers clicked off in rapid succession, Villanova was only interested in piling on, not watching the scoreboard.
When the second-half charge was over, the Wildcats were stunned at how much punishment they dealt Maryland.
19-0. Game over.
ěWe hit some big shots, we got the crowd into it,î Wayns said, ěBut I had no idea at the number. I didnít even realize it was 19-0.î
Corey Fisher scored eight of his 17 points during a sensational run that helped No. 7 Villanova avoid an upset and win its 11th straight game, 74-66 over Maryland on Saturday.
Wayns, who scored 22 points, and Fisher were dynamic in the backcourt and again showed why the Wildcats (16-1) are never out of any game.
The Wildcats trailed by 12 midway through the second half and could not make a shot against one of the top defensive teams in the nation. With outside threat and leading scorer Corey Stokes missing baskets early in the half, the Terps capitalized and hit a string of mid-range jumpers that stretched the lead to double-digits and stole the momentum.
Led by Jordan Williams, the Terps (11-6) were 9 minutes from the signature win against a Top 25 team that theyíve been craving and need to feel good about an NCAA tournament bid.
Fisher snatched it from them. He hit a pair of 3s during the spurt and sent the crowd at their off-campus NBA home into a frenzy.
After opening the second half 4 of 14 from the field, the Wildcats went on a tear. They got baskets from six different players and made six of their first seven shots of the run. The Terps went the other way, unable to get the ball inside to Williams, played sloppy, and lost composure.
The Terps went about as cold as a team can get down the stretch ó missing eight straight shots over 7:14 before Williams scored to made it 66-61.
The Terps closed within three when Wayns, a fast and fearless driver, stayed outside and buried a 3-pointer to give the Wildcats some space.
Miami 72, BC 71
CORAL GABLES, Fla. ó Durand Scott scored 19 points to lead Miami to its first ACC win of the season, beating the Boston College Eagles (13-5, 3-1).
Miami (12-5, 1-2) snapped a two-game losing streak after dropping ACC road games at Duke and Clemson. Miami improved to 8-0 at home this season.