January 7, 1999

Box Score

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Juan Dixon made two free throws with 3.4 seconds left and No. 5 Maryland survived a sloppy performance to beat Virginia 71-66 Thursday night.

Maryland (14-2, 2-1 Atlantic Coast), coming off an 18-point loss at home to No. 2 Duke, led 62-52 with 5:43 left, but did not make another field goal as the Cavaliers outscored them 14-9 the rest of the way.

A 3-pointer by Chezley Watson and a three-point play by Adam Hall brought Virginia to 62-58 with 4:35 left and when the Terrapins missed five of their next 12 free throws, Virginia (9-6, 0-3) kept its upset hopes alive.

Donald Hand scored a basket and added four free throws in the last 2:21, walk-on Jason Dowling hit two free throws and, when Laron Profit missed two free throws with 18.1 seconds left, Virginia had the ball trailing just 69-66.

But Hand's driving bank shot was off the mark, Maryland came away with the rebound and Dixon put an end to the Cavaliers hopes by making two from the line.

Obinna Ekezie and Terence Morris led Maryland with 17 points each and Steve Francis had 14.

Willie Dersch led the Cavaliers with 15 points and Chris Williams had 14.

The Terrapins shot 48 percent from the field, while Virginia shot 33 percent.

Maryland led 37-20 after a first half in which Virginia went 10:56 between its first and second field goals and made only 7 of 31 shots overall.

After Chezley Watson opened the scoring by hitting a 10-footer for Virginia, the Cavaliers missed 12 straight shots and had five turnovers before Willie Dersch hit a 3-pointer to draw them within 18-7.

By HANK KURZ Jr.
AP Sports Writer