UNC 87, Maryland 89
After leading the first 37 minutes of the game, UNC was not able to hold off a senior-led Maryland team in the end. DJ Strawberry had a career high 27 points to cap a high pace, high energy game. We had our chances down the stretch, but we couldn't convert on several free throws. We ended up shooting 8-17 from the free throw line compared to Maryland's 20-26. Hansbrough had a good game with 22 points, Ellington scored 17, and Lawson had another solid performance.
I must say the refs in this game were the worst I've seen all year. First, they called touch foul after touch foul and at a nearly 2-1 pace against UNC. The second half was much closer with 11 fouls against UNC and 9 against Maryland, but it still wasn't even. We've never had that many fouls called us against. I can't recall a time when Hansbrough scored 22 points and only shot 4 free throws. Typically, he gets fouled a high percentage of the time when he scores down low, but these refs didn't want to call them.
We just made it that much more difficult in our quest for the regular season ACC crown and 1st seed in the NCAA tourney. We need to win our next two games and have Virginia beat Virginia Tech (we have the tiebreaker against UVA, but not VT). I think we have to win either the ACC regular season or tourney to get a 1st seed in the NCAA tourney.
Second half notes:0:03. 87-89. Brandan Wright, one of our worst free throw shooters at 56% goes to the line to shoot two. He misses the first. Maryland takes a timeout. He misses the second (on purpose) but we aren't able to get the rebound and time runs out.
0:48. 87-89. Maryland has the ball. Let's see how tough we are.
2:40. 80-81. First lead for Maryland. Not looking good for us.
3:50. 80-77. After a 12-3 run by Maryland, it is anyone's ballgame.
6:03. 77-70. Frasor misses a wide open layup and Maryland scores a 3. 5 point swing.
7:00. 77-67. Lawson picked up his 4th foul.
7:09. 77-65. Alley oop from Lawson to Wright.
8:50. 73-61. I spoke too soon about the refs. UNC just picked up their 6th team foul.
9:10. 73-61. Hansbrough having a great game. Just scored a fast break dunk off a steal. 18 points so far.
12:56. 60-53. 8-1 run by UNC (mainly the second team) has given us a good lead again.
13:00. 58-53. Deon picked up his 4th foul! Fortunately, the refs have settled down a bit and aren't calling as many fouls. However, they aren't nearly as many fouls for Hansbrough after he scores as usual.
14:37. 56-52. UNC second team has given us a boost.
17:14. 48-48. Maryland tied it up.
