Maryland
Eastern Kentucky
Maryland Outlasts EKU, 83-72
12/12/2009 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 12, 2009
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - Greivis Vasquez scored 20 points in an unwanted reserve role, Landon Milbourne had 19, and Maryland outlasted stubborn Eastern Kentucky 83-72 Saturday.
Eric Hayes added 16 points for Maryland (6-3). The Terrapins never trailed, but couldn't pull away from the pesky Colonels (7-3) until Hayes hit a 3-pointer to spark a game-ending 11-4 run.
Vasquez began the game on the bench after showing up late for the morning shootaround. The senior guard had started 80 straight games, a streak launched during his freshman season.
Vasquez entered with 14:14 left in the first half. He scored 13 points after halftime, including a huge 3-pointer that put Maryland up 68-62 with 6:18 remaining.
Justin Stommes led Eastern Kentucky with 16 points. The Colonels placed five players in double figures.
Adrian Bowie started in place of Vasquez, joined by junior center Dino Gregory, who returned after serving an eight-game suspension for violating team rules.
Gregory made an immediate impression, sinking a jumper with 65 seconds elapsed during Maryland's game-opening 6-0 run. He finished with 8 points.
Every time the Terrapins appeared poised to pull away, the Colonels made a run. After nearly erasing a 16-point deficit in the first half, Eastern Kentucky fell behind 47-35 with 18:27 left before going on a 10-0 spree.
Maryland then used a 3-pointer by Hayes and three-point play by Vasquez to move in front by 8, but the Colonels scored 15 of the game's next 22 points to pull even at 60 with 8:23 to go.
The Terrapins committed only one turnover and outscored Eastern Kentucky 9-0 at the foul line in taking a 40-32 halftime lead.
Playing for the first time since losing to No. 3 Villanova six days earlier, Maryland scored the game's first six points. After the Colonels closed to 9-5, Hayes drilled two 3-pointers in a 15-3 spurt that put the Terrapins up by 16.
Maryland then went nearly 8 minutes without a basket, and Eastern Kentucky made four 3-pointers during a 24-9 run that made it 33-32.
