Jan. 14, 1998

Maryland Shocks Top-ranked Tar Heels

Mike Mardesich contributed 12 points in victory over North Carolina. (File photo)

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - Top-ranked North Carolina and coach Bill Guthridge finally ran out of luck Wednesday night.

Maryland handed the Tar Heels their first loss of the season and the first in the Guthridge era, as Laron Profit scored six points in overtime to lead the Terrapins to an 89-83 victory.

Antawn Jamison scored 27 points for North Carolina (17-1, 4-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), but he missed four foul shots in overtime and his one free throw with 7.4 seconds left was his only point over the final 18 minutes.

Profit scored 19 points for Maryland (10-5, 3-2), which lost by 32 points at home to Duke just 11 days earlier. Profit clinched the win by making two foul shots for an 87-82 lead with 18 seconds left.

It was the second time in three years the Terrapins beat No. 1 North Carolina in Cole Field House as they did it in the 1994-95 season.

North Carolina had won 34 of 35, including 17 straight under Guthridge, who took over for Dean Smith this season. The Tar Heels had won three games by five points or less, including a two-point decision in overtime against Georgia.

This time, however, North Carolina never led after Profit made two foul shots for a 84-82 lead with 2:11 left.

The Tar Heels had won 15 straight ACC games, and their loss put Duke alone in first place in the conference. Maryland has won three of four against UNC.

North Carolina faced the prospect of losing in regulation when Maryland got the ball with 7.5 seconds left and the game tied.

But a wild shot by Sarunas Jasikevicius failed to draw iron, and the Terrapins appeared to be in trouble because center Obinna Ekezie fouled out late in regulation and forward Rodney Elliott got his fifth foul one minute into overtime.

Both scored 16 points.

North Carolina trailed 51-50 before Jamison scored two straight baskets and Ademola Okulaja added a 3-pointer for a 57-51 lead.

Maryland cut the gap to four points on five occasions over the next eight minutes. Jasikevicius got the Terrapins to 65-63 with a jumper, and Maryland finally pulled even at 70 when Profit made two foul shots with 4:51 left.

North Carolina took the lead three times down the stretch, but Maryland answered each time, the last on a layup by Mike Mardesich with 46 seconds to go.

Maryland closed the first half with a 7-0 run to take a 41-37 lead, only the third time the Tar Heels have trailed at halftime this season. Jamison had 16 points, but only five in the final 12 minutes.

The Tar Heels went up 9-2 early, conjuring up memories of Maryland's debacle against Duke. In that one, No. 2 Duke took a 12-3 lead and went on to hand the Terrapins their worst home loss in 29 seasons.

This time, the Terrapins got points from six different players in a 16-5 run that put them ahead 22-18. After North Carolina took a 37-34 lead, freshmen Mardesich and Terence Morris scored the final seven points of the half for Maryland.