Jan. 26, 2005

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By KEITH PARSONS
AP Sports Writer

DURHAM, N.C. - Maryland coach Gary Williams brought in a few experts before facing second-ranked Duke.

Former stars Steve Blake, Juan Dixon and Laron Profit visited practice this week, giving the current Terrapins a few lessons. They talked about having fun, about believing in themselves and about giving a full effort against the undefeated Blue Devils.

"That was huge," forward Nik Caner-Medley said. "That was the hardest we practiced all year."

Caner-Medley and his teammates carried that message to the game, giving Maryland an improbable upset.

The junior had 25 points before leaving with an ankle injury, and Travis Garrison and Ekene Ibekwe finished off the Blue Devils at the free-throw line in a 75-66 victory Wednesday night.

The Terrapins (12-5, 3-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) lost three of their previous five games, all by at least 15 points. But they hung with Duke (15-1, 5-1) throughout and allowed only two points in the final 3{ minutes.

"I just thought they played a little bit harder than we did," Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "We didn't have the attitude that we've had the entire year. This team has to have an edge all the time."

Ibekwe gave Maryland the lead for good with a tough layup in traffic off an inbounds play, set up during a timeout by Williams. That made it 66-64 with 1:23 left, and the Blue Devils had no answer.

Daniel Ewing missed badly on a 3-pointer, and Garrison started a parade at the line for the Terps. Garrison was 5-for-6 in the final minute and Ibekwe was 4-for-4 to close it out.

"It was all about the players," Williams said. "We struggled a little bit this year with our identity, for whatever reason, and I'll take responsibility for it, but we do have pride in our program."

Ibekwe came off the bench for the first time this season and scored 15 points. John Gilchrist had 10 for Maryland.

"My teammates had so much heart. I really was impressed with them." Nik Caner-Medley

"To be on a big stage like this and get the win is huge," Caner-Medley said. "My teammates had so much heart. I really was impressed with them."

J.J. Redick led the Blue Devils with 20 points but also had eight turnovers, including two within seconds in the final minutes. Shelden Williams added 18 points and 14 rebounds.

"You have to take your hats off to Maryland," said Duke guard Daniel Ewing, who was held to nine points. "We didn't match their hunger. They wanted it a little bit more, and that's why they walked out of here with a win."

Top-ranked Illinois (20-0) and No. 8 Boston College (17-0) are the only teams left without a loss.

Duke seemingly was in control early in the second half, taking a pair of eight-point leads, the final one on a layup by Lee Melchionni. Ewing set it up with a nifty touch pass off a rebound, and it was 42-34.

Caner-Medley quickly led the rally. He made two free throws, then followed with a 3-pointer and a jumper to cut the margin to four. Later, he added a putback to make it 47-46, and Chris McCray gave the Terps their first lead of the second half with a layup.

That was the first of five lead changes in the final 13{ minutes.

"I just think he overpowered us a few times," Coach K said. "If there's one thing that won the game, it was that his desire to win was great. He put on a hell of a performance."

Ewing swished a 3 to put the Blue Devils ahead 58-54, but Caner-Medley responded with one of his own from several feet beyond the arc, with Redick right in his face. Caner-Medley had his final points from in close with 3:45 left to give Maryland a 64-60 lead, then left for good about 2 minutes later.

Redick had a steal at midcourt and was driving for a layup, with Caner-Medley racing back to try to stop it. They leaped together, and Redick's left-handed attempt never touched the rim.

But Caner-Medley made it only a few steps toward the other end before falling to grab his left ankle in agony. He went to the bench, and after Shavlik Randolph tied it one final time by following up a missed free throw by Shelden Williams, Ibekwe helped the Terps win.

"I think that you have to win a game against a quality team during the year to have credibility and believing that you're a good team," Gary Williams said. "I'm not saying that because we won, I just think that those guys have maxed out incredibly well.

"I'm sure they're very proud of what they've done."