Miami Looks For Fourth-Straight Win Saturday Versus Maryland
Feb. 22, 2008
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CORAL GABLES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Fla. – Coming off its first win against Duke in 45 years, the University of Miami men’s basketball team will look for its second straight win at home and fourth overall when it plays host to Maryland Saturday at 2 p.m. at the BankUnitedCenter.
Game 26: Miami (18-7, 5-6 ACC) vs. Maryland (17-10, 7-5 ACC)
Date: Sat., Feb. 23, 2008 | Time: 2 p.m. | Site: BankUnitedCenter
TV: Raycom/WBFS | Radio: 560 WQAM | Internet Video: ACC Select
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) | Maryland (www.umterps.com)
Tickets: (800) GO-CANES
Probable Miami Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
1 Lance Hurdle (G, 6-2, 180, Jr.) 7.8 1.9 2.4
33 Jack McClinton (G, 6-1, 185, Jr.) 16.5 2.3 2.8
23 James Dews (G, 6-3, 203, So.) 10.6 2.8 1.8
21 Dwayne Collins (F, 6-8, 235, So.) 9.5 6.4 1.0^
50 Anthony King (C, 6-9, 246, R-Sr.) 7.2 7.5 1.4^
Probable Maryland Starters
No. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast
21 Greivis Vasquez (G, 6-6, 190, So.) 17.6 5.6 6.7
5 Eric Hayes (G, 6-4, 184, So.) 10.3 3.4 5.0
1 Landon Milbourne (F, 6-7, 207, So.) 8.5 3.6 0.8^
15 James Gist (F, 6-9, 235, Sr.) 15.8 7.9 2.3^
50 Bambale Osby (F, 6-8, 250, Sr.) 12.0 6.8 2.2^
^ blocks per game
With Wednesday’s 96-95 upset of No. 5/4 Duke, the Hurricanes improved to 11-2 in the BankUnited Center this season and 2-1 versus ranked opponents at home. With three home games remaining in the regular season, Miami has already surpassed last season’s home win total by three games and has matched the most wins (11) earned at the BankUnited Center set twice before. The Hurricanes need just one home win to set a new UM record for wins at the “BUC”.
The win over the Blue Devils marked UM’s first against a Top 5 opponent since the `Canes won at No. 2/2 UConn on Feb. 20, 1999. Miami shot 57.4% from the floor (35-of-61) — its best shooting performance against an ACC opponent and its second-highest mark of the season (58.1% vs. NCA&T). It is the highest field goal percentage by a Duke opponent this season.
Sophomore forward Dwayne Collins scored a career-high 26 points on 12-of-14 shooting from the field (85.7%), tying for the third-most efficient game by an ACC player this season with at least 10 field goal attempts. His 12 made field goals also sets a new career high, while his 14 attempts are a season high.
The Series
Saturday marks the 14th meeting between Miami and Maryland, with the Hurricanes leading the all-time series, 8-5. Miami has won four of the last five over the Terrapins, including both games last season. The Hurricanes knocked off the Terps, 67-62, in their last meeting in the first round of the 2007 ACC Tournament, snapping Maryland’s seven-game winning streak. Miami is 2-0 versus Maryland at the BankUnitedCenter.
Last Meeting
Jack McClinton scored 17 points, Brian Asbury added 12 and undermanned Miami upset No. 17 Maryland, 67-62, in the opening round of the 2007 ACC Tournament. The 12th-seeded Hurricanes nearly squandered a 15-point lead in the second half, but McClinton and Asbury combined to make five consecutive free throws in the final 34 seconds to snap the Terrapins’ seven-game winning streak. Dwayne Collins had 12 points and 12 boards for the Hurricanes, while Jimmy Graham added nine points, seven rebounds and five blocked shots. Miami finished with 19 offensive rebounds — giving the ‘Canes enough second-chance shots to build the big lead.
A Look at Maryland
Maryland has asserted itself in ACC play, entering Saturday’s game in a tie with Clemson for third place in the league with a 7-5 conference record. The Terps handed North Carolina its first loss of the season on Jan. 19, 82-80, and has edged its ACC opponents by an average of 1.8 points per game. Maryland looks to bounce back from Wednesday’s 69-65 home loss to Virginia Tech, in which the Terps gave up a 14-point lead, converted just 42.9 percent from the charity stripe and had no offensive production from its bench. However, Maryland’s starters have been strong on both sides of the ball, as four Terps average double-figure scoring, led by Greivis Vasquez’ 17.6 points, ACC-high 6.7 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game. James Gist adds 15.8 points and 7.9 rebounds (fifth in the ACC) per game, while Bambale Osby posts 12.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.31 blocked shots (second in the ACC) an outing.
