Stoglin Leads Maryland Over Notre Dame 78-71
WASHINGTON (AP) — Maryland had just pulled off its biggest win of the season, and coach Mark Turgeon was sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with three of his players in the interview room.
Sean Mosley and James Padgett certainly deserved to be seated behind the microphones, because both played very well in the Terrapins' 78-71 victory over Notre Dame on Sunday.
Eventually, though, Turgeon left the room so the true star of the game — Terrell Stoglin — could have a seat behind the crowded table.
Stoglin scored 31 points, including the game-clinching shot with 12.8 seconds left, to guide the Terrapins (4-3) to their most significant win under Turgeon in his first season at Maryland.
"We needed Terrell," said Turgeon.
Stoglin, a 6-foot-1 sophomore, made 11 of 20 shots from the floor. He finished one point short of his career high, set earlier this season against Colorado. Best of all, in the last of his 37 strength-sapping minutes, he popped a 15-foot jumper to stem a comeback bid by the Fighting Irish.
"Stoglin is just like (former NBA sharpshooter) World B. Free, man," Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said. "He's like the microwave of College Park. He makes tough shots."
Mosley contributed 17 points and six rebounds for Maryland — which went 7 for 10 from 3-point range and 25 for 35 at the foul line — and Padgett had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
"I was happy because I had a great game, but my teammates had great games," Stoglin said. "That was the key tonight. It was a team win — and we needed it."
Jerian Grant scored 20 for Notre Dame (5-4). The Irish have dropped four of five after a 4-0 start.
"We didn't get any loose balls, and I thought we showed our youth at times," Brey said. "But I love that we battled back."
After Notre Dame used a late 8-1 run to close to 74-71, Stoglin made his clutch basket. Grant missed a 3-pointer at the other end and Maryland's Mychal Parker made two foul shots to conclude the scoring.
The one-day tournament at Verizon Center began with Virginia Commonwealth defeating George Washington 75-60.
Maryland scored the first points of the second half, a pair of free throws by Berend Weijs, to go up 37-30, and after Notre Dame cut the gap to three points, the Terrapins used an 8-0 spurt to take a 51-40 lead with 11:59 remaining. Parker ignited the surge with a 3-pointer and Stoglin capped it with a layup and a 3-pointer.
But Maryland's next basket didn't come until Padgett scored on a tip-in with 7:41 left to make it 57-54. After Pat Connaughton countered with a field goal for the Irish, Stoglin scored five points in a nine-point spree that put the Terps up by 10.
"Winning this game right now builds our confidence," Stoglin said.
Stoglin had 13 points, and Maryland shot 48 percent — including 4 for 5 from 3-point range — to go up 35-30 at halftime.
Notre Dame raced to an early 10-3 lead before the Terrapins came back behind Stoglin, who scored 11 of Maryland's first 12 points. Stoglin opened 4 for 4 from the field compared to 0 for 7 for the rest of his teammates.
"Terrell kept us in it in the first half," Turgeon said.
The Terrapins took their first lead when Nick Faust hit a 3-pointer to make it 21-20. Minutes later, Mosely drilled a 3 and Padgett made a layup for a 28-25 advantage.
After the Irish pulled even at 30, Mosley made a layup, Padgett sank a foul shot and Stoglin weaved his way to the basket for a layup.
(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
