Feb. 19, 2005

Final Stats |  Notes

By HANK KURZ Jr.
AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - John Gilchrist figured he had let his team down by fumbling away a chance to win at the end of the first overtime.

Given some time to think about it on the bench, and then a chance to make amends, Gilchrist hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:12 left in the second overtime on Saturday and No. 22 Maryland went on to a 92-89 victory over Virginia.

"He really sent a message to the team - if he could sit me down, anybody can get sat down," Gilchrist said of coach Gary Williams.

"To come at the end and hit a big shot, it was a textbook ending."

Virginia had a chance to tie it with 18 seconds to go in the second overtime, but Elton Brown missed two free throws, capping his 3-for-13 showing from the line. As a team, Virginia was 12-for-27 on free throws.

"As hard as we played, as courageous as we played, you've got to make free throws to win," Virginia coach Pete Gillen said. "If that's all you shoot, all the good things unfortunately are hurt by that stat."

The victory was as big for the Terrapins's NCAA tournament hopes as it was damaging to the Cavaliers' hopes of going anywhere in the postseason.

Maryland (16-8, 7-6 Atlantic Coast Conference), coming off a 19-point loss at North Carolina State, still has home games against Clemson and No. 4 North Carolina and finishes on the road against Virginia Tech.

The Cavaliers (13-11, 4-9) lost their second straight after three consecutive victories raised hopes that a surging finish could earn them an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. Now, even the NIT looks sketchy.

For Gilchrist, who went to high school in Virginia Beach, the outcome was particularly satisfying after being jeered all game by the fans.

"It's quite flattering," said Gilchrist, who had 22 points. "I definitely knew coming in I was going to hear it, but after 3 years, it never ceases to amaze me."

The game also produced a dazzling duel at point guard between Gilchrist and Sean Singletary, Virginia's highly touted freshman. He had 23 points, nine assists and scored 12 of Virginia's 20 overtime points.

"When your team really needs you to win, especially as a point guard, you have to step up and do that," Gilchrist said of Singletary, who was 9-for-17 from the field.

"He really showed me a lot of heart and guts tonight."

The praise was little consolation to Singletary.

"We came back every time and we had a chance to win," he said. "We just didn't knock down our free throws or get some loose balls we should have, little things like that in the main scheme of things are real big."

The Terrapins twice saw the game extended when Virginia made 3-pointers on its final possession.

Gary Forbes hit the first one with 4 seconds left in regulation, and Singletary hit one to tie it with 21 seconds left in the first overtime.

But Virginia ran out of heroics.

Maryland scored the first four points in the second overtime before Singletary scored on a drive and a pull-up 12-footer, Forbes hit a free throw and Brown scored down low, giving the Cavaliers an 89-87 lead.

After Nik Caner-Medley made one free throw with 2:21 left, a play that also drew Singletary's fifth foul, the Terrapins rebounded their own miss and found Gilchrist at the top of the key for his game-winner.

Travis Garrison scored 20 points, 11 in the overtimes, and had eight rebounds and Caner-Medley had 19 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.

Devin Smith added 22 points and Forbes, who also fouled out, added 17. Both grabbed eight rebounhds. Brown had 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Maryland scored the first seven points in the first overtime and led 80-73 with 1:56 left, but Singletary and J.R. Reynolds hit consecutive 3-pointers for the Cavaliers. The shot by Reynolds was just his second 3-pointer in 24 attempts over the last five games.

After Garrison scored inside to give the Terps an 82-79 lead with 32 seconds left, Singletary hit a tying 3-pointer.

Maryland had 20 seconds to play for a last shot, but Gilchrist waited until less than 4 seconds were left to make his move and Singletary knocked the ball away.

The Cavaliers trailed for the last 10 minutes of regulation until the final play, when Forbes hit a 3-pointer from the left side with 4 seconds left, pulling the Cavaliers even at 69-all and forcing the extra session.