March 14, 2008

Final Stats

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Tyrese Rice scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half and Boston College snapped a six-game losing streak with a comeback win over Maryland on Thursday in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.

Rakim Sanders, with 13 points, was one of four other players in double figures for the 11th-seeded Eagles (14-16), who rallied from an 11-point second-half deficit to advance to play third-seeded Clemson on Friday.

James Gist scored 19 points and the Terrapins (18-14) shot 52 percent but committed 21 turnovers.

The Eagles fell behind 20-5 and 36-25 to start the second half, only to come back behind their dynamic point guard and his young teammates.

Rice, who had been a one-man show for much of the season, hit two free throws in the closing seconds to send Maryland to its fifth loss in six games.

Maryland turned the ball over on five straight possessions and Josh Southern's half-hook with 3:55 left capped a 13-0 run to give Boston College a 60-50 lead.

Maryland then scored seven straight points with turnover-creating full-court pressure, but Southern broke the streak with a layup with 2:11 left. Rice's free throws ended another late comeback bid.

With Gist hitting four of his first five shots and recording consecutive steals, Maryland scored 13 straight points to build a 20-5 lead. The Eagles got within 31-25 at halftime.

Gist hit a 3-pointer and a jumper to start the second half, only to watch Rice lead the Eagles on a 17-3 run to take a 42-39 lead.