Jan. 10, 1998

Maryland Escapes with Win over N.C. State

Maryland's record is 9-5, 2-2 in the ACC. (File photo)

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Sarunas Jasikevicius scored 18 points, including two free throws in the final minute to lead Maryland to a awin over N.C. State Saturday.

Maryland led 68-63 after Jasikevicius split two free throws with 16.4 seconds left. A lay-up by C.C. Harrison cut the lead to 68-65 with 8.9 seconds remaining but the Pack couldn't steal the ensuing inbounds pass and was forced to foul Rodney Elliott.

Maryland's 6-foot-8 forward missed both his foul shots and Jasikevicius corralled the rebound. But Kenny Inge tied up Jasikevicius, forcing a jump ball and giving N.C. State a last chance to tie.

Harrison got a clear look at a 3-pointer but his attempt from the left wing bounced off the front of the rim at the buzzer.

Harrison led N.C. State with 20 points.

Maryland (9-5, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) started a 14-3 run seven minutes into the second half and had a 53-42 lead with 8:38 left after a basket by Mike Mardesich.

The Wolfpack (9-5, 1-3) still trailed 60-50 with 3:54 left but Harrison hit consecutive 3-pointers to draw N.C. State to within four.

Two free throws and a short jumper by Elliott put Maryland up 64-56. Harrison hit a 3-pointer from the left wing with 1:36 left to trim the lead to five at 64-59. But two free throws by Terrell Stokes with 1:33 left put Maryland back up by seven.

After Jasikevicius split two free throws, Archie Miller hit a 3-pointer with 40.3 seconds left. Laron Profit was called for a foul underneath on the play and Harrison hit one of two free throws to cut the lead to 67-63.

Matt Kovarik missed two free throws before Jasikevicius went to the line 14 seconds later.

The Wolfpack trailed by as many as nine points in the first half but stormed back with hot shooting.

A top-of-the-key jumper by Jasikevicius started a 10-2 Maryland run with 15:07 left and a short shot by Mardesich put the Terps up 18-9 with 10:29 remaining.

Justin Gainey's 3-pointer 40 seconds later started a 9-0 Wolfpack run. Ron Kelley and Inge scored before Tim Wells drew the half's loudest roar with an emphatic one-handed dunk with 7:09 left.

The Pack built a four-point lead late in the half but a fadeaway jumper by Jasikevicius with three seconds left cut the lead to one.

The Wolfpack were the third worst shooting team in the ACC (45 percent) entering the game but hit 13 of 25 shots (52 percent) in the first half Saturday.

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