Feb. 27, 2002

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - It's been two decades since Maryland has won the Atlantic Coast Conference outright.

The Terrapins look to clinch at least a tie of the ACC title when they visit Florida State on Wednesday. After a less-than impressive effort in its last contest, No. 2 Maryland (23-3, 13-1) is fortunate to be in charge of its own destiny concerning the conference's top spot.

Maryland, which last won the conference in 1980-81, avoided what would have a costly defeat on Sunday, barely beating Wake Forest 90-89.

Lonny Baxter scored 25 points, Juan Dixon added 20 points - despite missing 10 of 16 shots - as the Terrapins moved a full game ahead of second-place Duke in the ACC with their 10th straight win.

It was the first victory this season that the Terps won by fewer than four points.

"We were very fortunate to win that game," Maryland coach Gary Williams said. "That's really the first game we've had that's come down to a last-second situation. It was a good experience for us."

A Maryland victory on Wednesday assures the Terrapins at least a tie for the ACC regular season championship, with one league game to play against Virginia on Sunday. Maryland's 13-1 league mark is already its best in league history and matches the most ACC wins by a Maryland team (13-3 in 1999). Duke is a game behind Maryland at 12-2. The Blue Devils are at Virginia on Thursday before closing out their season against North Carolina on Sunday.

Maryland's only other regular season crown was in 1975 (10-2). The Terps split a four-way tie with a 12-4 ACC record in 1995.

Florida State (11-14, 4-10), which has dropped 11 of the last 12 meetings against Maryland - including four straight victories in Tallahassee - is coming off an 87-78 loss at Clemson last Saturday.

Delvon Arrington had 20 points and seven assists in the defeat for the Seminoles, who has dropped seven of their last eight games, and lost a chance to finish sixth in the league and avoid Duke or Maryland in the ACC tournament quarterfinals.

Arrington averages 10.9 points, second on the team to Cummings' 15.6 per game for Florida State, which is still seeking its fifth ACC game of the year and surpass its conference win total from last season.

The Seminoles were 4-12 in the ACC during the 2000-01 season,