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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) -- The Maryland Terrapins (No. 16 ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, No. 14 AP) returned to the basketball court Monday for their first game in 16 days.
Nearly two hours later, their intensity returned, too.
|  | | Maryland's Juan Dixon plows over Jon Larranaga. |
Lonny Baxter had 20 points and 13 rebounds as Maryland shook off the effects of a lengthy holiday layoff and used a late surge to
defeat George Mason 69-66.
Terence Morris scored 20 points for the sluggish Terrapins
(9-2), who had 18 turnovers and went 1-for-8 from 3-point range.
Maryland didn't take the lead for good until Morris made one of two
foul shots with 1:23 left.
"We've got to get back to playing consistent basketball. We
were really inconsistent tonight," coach Gary Williams said. "The
layoff is probably my fault, in terms of scheduling. It was tough
to get a game in there to break up that stretch."
It was the 70th straight non-conference home win for the
Terrapins, playing for the first time since defeating Kentucky on
Dec. 11. Surprisingly, George Mason proved to be a stiffer
challenge.
"We're young. Hopefully we learn from this," Williams said.
"There's a tendency when you beat Kentucky to think everybody will
respect you as being that good automatically. But you have to prove
it every night, especially when you play somebody that's local and
is tired of hearing about you."
George Evans had 17 points and 11 rebounds for George Mason
(5-5), of nearby Fairfax, Va. The defending Colonial Athletic
Association champions fell to 0-12 against schools from the
Atlantic Coast Conference, including 0-4 versus Maryland.
"We didn't execute in the last four minutes," Evans said. "We
lost, but we played a great game."
After Morris' free throw put the Terrapins up 65-64, Erik
Herring misfired for the Patriots and Mike Mardesich hit a short
hook to make it 67-64 with one minute to go. The Patriots then
missed two chances to tie before Morris clinched the win by sinking
one of two foul shots with 7.5 seconds remaining.
"We learn from this," Mardesich said. "We just have to do a
better job of getting ready to play."
Baxter and Morris each scored four points in a 10-2 run that
gave Maryland its biggest lead, 49-42 with 13:22 left. But the
Patriots scored the next nine points, including five by Evans, to
move in front with 10:57 to play.
Neither team led by more than two points until the final minute.
"I like our team in tough situations," Williams said. "We
didn't play a great game, but we hung tough and we did what we had
to do to win."
The Patriots missed 20 of 33 shots in the first half but trailed
only 37-36, thanks to eight steals and a 17-16 rebounding edge over
the taller Terrapins.
Maryland committed seven turnovers in the opening eight minutes
in falling behind 18-17. The Patriots then went more than five
minutes without a basket, but the Terrapins managed only three
points during that span.
George Mason led 22-21 before Baxter scored four straight points
and Danny Miller hit a 3-pointer to put Maryland up by six. The
Patriots fought back, however, and held the lead briefly before
Baxter scored the final basket of the half.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
George Mason Clubhouse
Maryland Clubhouse
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