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EVENTS
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BOISE, Idaho (Ticker) -- NCAA Tournament victory No. 11 for Gary Williams at Maryland came against the man he surpassed in that category, Lefty Driesell. Williams' Terrapins advanced to the "Sweet 16" for the second time in three seasons by topping Driesell and Georgia State, 79-60, behind 19 points and 13 rebounds from Lonny Baxter. The West Region contest at the Boise State University Pavilion was one of the most hyped second-round games in recent memory, with Driesell going against his former school. But the 11th-seeded Panthers, the Trans America Conference champions, were unable to handle the 6-8 Baxter as Maryland advanced to a regional semifinal contest against local rival Georgetown. Two days after posting its first NCAA Tournament victory with an upset of 2000 Final Four participant Wisconsin, Georgia State (29-5) battled the third-seeded Terrapins (23-10) for 26 minutes before faltering. All-American candidates Baxter, Terence Morris and Juan Dixon combined for all but two points during a 16-2 run as Maryland broke open what had been a tie game and took a 63-49 lead with 10 minutes remaining. Dixon and Morris scored 14 points apiece and Danny Miller contributed 10 for the Terrapins, who on Thursday in Anaheim, California will attempt to win a regional semifinal game for the first time in the Gary Williams era, which began in 1989. That is something the Terrapins did twice with Driesell at the helm. "The Lefthander" led Maryland to a 348-159 record, 10 NCAA Tournament wins and two trips (1973, 1975) to the regional final in 17 seasons but was fired in 1986 after the tragic cocaine overdose death of star Len Bias. One of three coaches in NCAA history to guide four schools to the NCAA Tournament, Driesell has 762 career victories. He also has had stints at James Madison and Davidson. Shernard Long led the Panthers with 20 points and seven rebounds but scored only four points in the second half, when Maryland pulled away. A free throw by Georgia State's Donnie Davis forced a 47-47 deadlock, but Baxter threw down a dunk with 14:23 remaining that put the Terrapins ahead for good and ignited the game's key burst. Morris followed with a jumper and Dixon's steal and layup pushed the advantage to six points. After a jumper by Georgia State's Darryl Cooper, Morris and Baxter each made a pair of free throws around an officials' timeout. Miller scored on the break and Morris and Dixon both went 2-of-2 at the stripe for a 14-point bulge midway through the second half. Steve Blake dished out seven assists and Dixon had six for the Terrapins, whose offense clicked as they connected on 50 percent (31-of-62) of their shots. Both teams committed 15 turnovers and they battled to a 42-42 deadlock on the boards. Long and Terrell Thomas grabbed seven rebounds apiece for the Panthers, who connected on just 31 percent (20-of-65), including 4-of-22 from 3-point range. Maryland has won the only two meetings between the schools. |
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