Smith Leads Terps Past Seminoles, 73-62, At Comcast Center

Feb. 8, 2004

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By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Jamar Smith had 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Maryland used a solid defensive effort in the second half to get past Florida State 73-62 Sunday.

Nik Caner-Medley scored 14 points and D.J. Strawberry had 12 for the Terrapins, who are counting on a strong finish in the regular season to earn an 11th straight bid to the NCAA tournament.

It was the ninth double-double of the season for Smith, the Terrapins' lone senior. Despite losing to Florida State in December, Maryland (13-7, 4-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) has won 16 of 18 against the Seminoles.

Florida State (16-7, 4-5) lost its 20th straight ACC game on the road. Tim Pickett scored 20 for the Seminoles, but was limited to two points in the second half.

Despite 6-for-27 shooting after halftime, Florida State trailed by only four points until Chris McCray made two free throws with 52 seconds left. McCray then stole a pass, was fouled intentionally and added another foul shot to make it 69-62.

The Seminoles missed their first seven shots of the second half and fell behind 43-38. Michael Joiner ended the drought with a 3-pointer, but Florida State missed its next seven field-goal tries before a dunk by Alexander Johnson cut Maryland's lead to 52-47.

McCray then scored five straight points, including a three-point play. Pickett picked up his fourth foul on the drive and spent the next two minutes on the bench.

The Seminoles ran off an 8-3 spurt without him, closing to 60-55 on a 3-pointer by Von Wafer, who finished with 15 points.

Caner-Medley then hit a 3-pointer to help Maryland build the lead to 66-57, and the Terrapins held on to win their second straight in the ACC after a 2-5 start.

Maryland led 39-38 at halftime despite a 7-for-9 shooting performance by Pickett - including 4-for-4 from 3-point range.

Pickett scored 10 points in the opening eight minutes to help the Seminoles take a 19-15 lead. It was 24-22 before Maryland freshman Mike Jones made a 3-pointer and Smith hit a fadeaway jumper to ignite a 10-0 run that put the Terrapins up by eight.

Wafer scored the Seminoles' next nine points to keep it close.

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