Postgame News Conference
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Jordan Williams had 16 points and 16 rebounds and three other Terps scored in double figures, but Maryland fell to second-seeded Duke 87-71 in an ACC quarterfinal Friday night.
Kyle Singler scored 29 points for No. 5 Duke, which pulled away late after Maryland closed within a point in the second half. Mason Plumlee added 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Blue Devils (28-4).
The two-time reigning ACC tournament champions held Maryland without a field goal for 6 minutes down the stretch to reach the conference semifinals for the fourth straight year.
The Terps had trailed 42-33 at the half, but used an 8-0 run early in the second to pull within 47-46 on a free throw by Williams. Maryland got within a single point five different times but was unable to tie or take the lead.
Singler hit a driving layup with just under 9 minutes left to start the decisive surge. Duke reeled off nine straight points, outscored Maryland 11-1 over a 4 1/2-minute span and rode a 24-9 run to an 18-point lead in the final minute.
Seth Curry and Ryan Kelly both finished with 11 points while Miles Plumlee had 10.
Kelly, who earlier in the season made 18 consecutive shots over a four-game span, had a near-perfect shooting night -- hitting all five of his attempts from the field but missing his only try from the free-throw line.
Kelly's 3 with 3 1/2 minutes left broke a 31-all tie and started Duke's 11-2 run that closed the half. Singler's drive down the lane with 4 seconds to go gave the Blue Devils their largest lead, 42-33, at the break. But for the first 30 minutes, the Terrapins never let them pull too far ahead. They scored on 14 of their first 16 possessions of the second half to keep it tight.
Cliff Tucker scored 12 points, and Gregory and Pe'Shon Howard each scored 10 for Maryland.
The Associated Press contributed to this recap
