Feb. 27, 2005

Recap |  Box Score |  Quotes

• The Maryland basketball team saw two players surpass the 1,000-point mark, but lost an 85-83 heartbreaker to ACC foe North Carolina Sunday night at Comcast Center. It was Maryland's first loss to a ranked opponent in four games, and the team is 4-4 against Top 25 opponents this season. It was the Tar Heels first win in College Park in four years, as they improved their all-time series record to 111-53. Maryland drops to 16-10 overall and 7-8 in the ACC.

• Chris McCray continued his recent torrid shooting performance, scoring a career-high 25 points and hit a career-high five three-point field goals to lead Maryland in the scoring column. He has reached double-figures in nine straight games, during which he has averaged 17 points-per-game. He added six rebounds and tied a team-high with five assists. The ACC's leading free throw shooter, McCray hit all six from the charity stripe, extending his current streak to 27 without a miss.

• Nik Caner-Medley and John Gilchrist became the 40th and 41st Terrapins, respectively, to surpass the 1,000-point plateau in the first half. Caner-Medley sank a short bucket at the 14:37 mark of the first half to give him his 1,000th point and minutes later, Gilchrist drove the lane, drew contact and hit a leaner off the glass to surpass the 1,000-point mark. Gilchrist's tough basket and ensuing free throw gave Maryland a 29-26 advantage with 7:54 to play.

• Caner-Medley poured in 16 points - his sixth straight double-digit performance - and grabbed five rebounds for the home team. The junior forward has averaged 18.2 points and 7.5 boards in the last six outings. Gilchrist had 13 points and five assists against a tough Tar Heel defense. He has averaged 15.3 points and 6.2 assists his last six times out.

• Mike Jones' proficiency from long range nearly single-handedly allowed Maryland to pull out a come-from-behind victory. His four three-point second-half field goals in five attempts enabled Maryland to stay close.

• Maryland shot a tremendous 11-of-17 (64.7 percent) beyond the arc, its best performance since they shot 64.3 percent (9-of-14) against Wake Forest in the first round of the 2004 ACC Tournament.

• Sean May scored 22 points and Jawad Williams had 21 points to pace the No. 2 Tar Heels. Raymond Felton registered his fifth double-double of the year with 10 points and 10 assists. He scored the game-winning points on a well-executed drive with 18.9 seconds remaining. With 11 rebounds, May also recorded a double-double, his sixth straight and 11th this season. UNC shot 50 percent from the field (31-of-62), on pace with their league-leading 50.6 field goal percentage this season.

• The first half, which featured eight ties and eight lead changes, opened with a frenzy as both teams tried to use speed to seize early control of the contest. Caner-Medley hauled in a downcourt pass from Gilchrist and streaked in for a lay-up to give Maryland a 17-12 lead with 13:05 to play.

• The Heels responded with nine straight points (five by Raymond Felton) to recapture a 35-29 lead with four minutes remaining. Carolina would increase its lead to 42-34 on a lay-in by May. David Noel's breakaway dunk just before the first half buzzer sounded gave UNC a 47-37 lead at the break.

• May and Jawad Williams posted 12 points apiece to pace Carolina, who shot 17-of-33 in the opening frame (.515). May also collected six rebounds and Felton dished out seven of his team's 11 assists.

• McCray was lights out from behind the three-point arc, draining all four of his three-point field goal attempts, leading the Terps with 16 first-half points and a team-high six boards (three on the offensive glass). Caner-Medley and Gilchrist poured in nine and eight points, respectively

• Mike Grinnon, Maryland's lone remaining link to the 2002 national championship season, received his first career start on Senior Night, and played effectively in 12 first-half minutes.

• Gilchrist fed a no-look pass to Ekene Ibekwe, who laid it in to cut the Carolina lead to 51-45 with three minutes elapsed. Jawad Williams answered with two straight baskets to push UNC's lead back up to double digits. Again, Maryland would cut the lead to six with two James Gist buckets, and again UNC answered with a four-point run for a 63-53 lead.

• Mike Jones drilled treys on back-to-back possessions from each wing and Sterling Ledbetter drive and lay-in evened the contest at 65 with just under 10 minutes remaining. Marvin Williams hit one-of-two at the line and Melvin Scott's three-pointer got a friendly roll to regain a four-point lead. Jones came right back with a triple, but David Noel answered on the other end with a three of his own as the Heels held a tenuous 72-68 lead with 7:14 remaining.

• After Carolina went up 76-68, the Terps refused to give in. Consecutive three-pointers by Gilchrist, McCray and Jones vaulted the Terps into the lead at 81-80 for the first time since 7:30 remained in the first half. Jawad Williams knocked down a three-pointer to put UNC back on top, but Ibekwe responded at the other end, tipping in a loose ball in a scrum to tie the score at 83 with 42 ticks left.

• On Senior Night, Maryland recognized four-year team managers Jamie Hollander and Matt Holmes, as well as seniors Grinnon and Darien Henry.