Terps Play Yellow Jackets In Final Tuneup Before Rematch With Duke
2/13/2002 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 13, 2002
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - With Sunday's rematch against Duke looming, Maryland must remain focused when it plays host to Georgia Tech on Wednesday at Cole Field House.
The third-ranked Terrapins (19-3, 9-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) have won six straight since a 99-78 loss to the top-ranked Blue Devils on Jan. 17. They are a half-game behind Duke, with each team having one game this week before Sunday's showdown, which also is at College Park.
Five Maryland players scored in double figures, led by Juan Dixon's 18 points, in Saturday's 92-77 win over North Carolina. Lonny Baxter and Byron Mouton added 16 each for the Terrapins.
The Terrapins close out their conference schedule with four of six at home, but know that doesn't guarantee wins.
"It's not like we're playing easy teams at home," Maryland coach Gary Williams said. "We've won on the road, so who is to say those teams can't come in and win at our place.
"I don't buy into that that we have it any easier. We played well the first half of the year, and if we can play well in the second half, then Cole will be an advantage for us. But you still have to play well. The crowd doesn't win the game for you."
Dixon leads the Terrapins with 19.4 points per game, while Baxter averages 15.2 points and a team-high 8.2 rebounds.
The Yellow Jackets had a three-game winning streak snapped with a 92-77 loss to Duke on Saturday. Georgia Tech played well against the Blue Devils early in the first half before surrendering a 20-7 run right before halftime.
"If we're going to go into Cole Field House and compete, we have to play with confidence," Yellow Jackets coach Paul Hewitt said. "They're phenomenal in that building. We know their pressure is going to be turned up, so we have to take care of the ball and really attack, just the way we did the first half against Duke."
Georgia Tech (10-14, 3-8) is led by point guard Tony Atkins, who ranks eighth in the conference with 15.9 points per game and is hitting an ACC-leading 40.5 percent (75-of-185) from beyond the 3-point arc.
Atkins scored 24 points in the Yellow Jackets' 92-87 loss to the Terrapins on Jan. 13.
