Virginia Beats Maryland, 61-58
By HANK KURZ Jr.
AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) -- Mike Tobey's tip-in with 1:46 to play in overtime gave Virginia the lead and it held on to beat Maryland 61-58 Sunday night in a game the Cavaliers had to win to boost their NCAA tournament hopes.
Tobey, who scored 13 points, tipped in a miss by Akil Mitchell to give Virginia (21-10, 11-7 Atlantic Coast Conference) the lead, and two turnovers and a missed 3-point try just before the buzzer by Dez Wells preserved the Cavaliers' 17th consecutive home victory and a first-round bye in the ACC tournament.
Nick Faust led the Terrapins (20-11, 8-10) with 15 points and Wells finished with 12 and 12 rebounds, but despite leading most of the game, the Terrapins lost their fifth in a row against Virginia.
Mitchell led Virginia with 17 points and Joe Harris had 15 despite making just 4 of 18 shots.
Faust scored 10 of his 13 points during a 19-2 run early in the game and Maryland almost made it last, not letting Virginia get back to even until Harris' 3-pointer went through with just 1:37 remaining.
Wells' floater gave Maryland the lead back with 23.8 seconds left, and Tobey tied it when he caught an inbounds pass, turned and laid it in with 5.4 seconds left. Justin Anderson blocked Maryland's final shot in regulation, and the teams traded baskets in overtime until Tobey's follow finished it.
Mitchell made 1 of 2 free throws with 7.4 seconds left before Wells' final miss.
Despite the stakes, Virginia trailed almost throughout, and twice got within two possessions only to let Maryland players hit open 3-pointers. Logan Aronhalt did it with 8:52 to play, giving the Terps a 45-36 lead, and after Virginia got within five, Seth Allen hit a 3 with the clock winding down for Maryland. They were the only baskets for Aronhalt and Allen.
Trailing 50-42, however, Virginia finally put some defensive stops and scoring together.
Tobey hit a free throw, and Mitchell scored on a drive for Virginia. After Tobey blocked Alex Len's shot from in close at the other end, Harris hit a pair of free throws to get Virginia within 50-49.
Faust, who hadn't scored since the first 12 minutes, made it 52-49 with a 15-footer from the left baseline, and Harris then tied it, making his first 3-pointer since very early from the left of the key.
Wells' floater gave Maryland the lead with 23.8 seconds to play, and after bringing the ball to the front court, Virginia coach Tony Bennett called a timeout with 6.9 seconds left. On the inbound, Tobey shook free and made a layup with 5.4 seconds left, and Anderson's block at the other end forced overtime.
For most of the game, Virginia was trying to recover from a sloppy, at times futile start.
Maryland used a 19-2 run to break away from a 6-all tie and take command in the first half as Virginia played nothing like a team badly needing a victory coming off 16 straight home wins.
Faust, who came in averaging 8.7 points, had 10 in the run and 13 in the first 12 minutes. With both teams shooting poorly, Virginia outscored the Terps 11-7 over the last 8:15 to trail 32-19 at the half.
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(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
