ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 10, 1996 TAG: 9603110106
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: GREENSBORO, N.C.
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
GEORGIA TECH TRIES to make a clean sweep of ACC laurels this season.
Georgia Tech, picked sixth in the ACC basketball race before the season, stands poised to add a tournament championship to its regular-season title.
The Yellow Jackets ran their winning streak to nine games Saturday afternoon with an 84-79 victory over Maryland in semifinal action at the Greensboro Coliseum.
``It's absolutely incredible what's going on,'' said Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins, whose Yellow Jackets were 6-7 after losing four games in a row at the end of December.
Now, they stand one victory from presenting Cremins, their 15-year coach, with his fourth ACC championship. In their path is defending champion Wake Forest, a 68-60 winner over Clemson.
Mark Price and Kenny Anderson, heroes of Georgia Tech's ACC-championship teams in 1985 and 1990, were in the stands Saturday as Georgia Tech (21-10) raced to an 8-0 lead and led by 18 points in the first half.
Maryland (17-12) never led during the final 20 minutes, but the Terrapins got as close as 81-77 behind the play of junior forward Keith Booth, who finished with a career-high 33 points.
``I'd love somehow, somewhere to maintain a lead - if we ever get one again,'' Cremins said. ``We never make it easy on ourselves.''
Sophomore forward Matt Harpring made all of his 10 free throws and finished with a team-high 24 points for Georgia Tech, which shot 50 percent from the field but was plagued by a season-high 24 turnovers.
``That Maryland press is brutal,'' said senior guard Drew Barry, who had 18 points and six assists for the Yellow Jackets, ``but, in the last two games, we've had 44 turnovers. You don't win many games with 20 turnovers.''
Maryland might have pulled off an upset if it didn't have 19 turnovers. The most glaring came with 4:22 remaining, after Mario Lucas had rebounded a Georgia Tech miss and was looking to outlet the ball.
Tech freshman Stephon Marbury anticipated Lucas' pass, stepped in front of Duane Simpkins and made a layup to put the Yellow Jackets ahead 77-67.
``The last 2 1/2 months, I've learned that Stephon Marbury is better than I ever thought,'' Cremins said. ``You've got to understands he's a freshman and he gets a little wild sometimes, but he makes some incredible plays. The best way to coach him is to let him play.''
The Terps had their chances after Marbury's steal, coming as close as 77-73 before Harpring stole an entry pass intended for Booth with 2:45 left. Maryland quickly fouled Barry, whose two free throws were among eight of nine converted by Tech to end the game.
``What impresses me is not so much their passing ability, but their willingness to pass up a pretty good shot for a great shot,'' Maryland coach Gary Williams said. ``Their guys aren't worrying if they shot or not on their last trip down the floor.''
Williams frequently became aggravated with his team, but it appears that the Terps, who had an 0-3 start in conference play, will make the NCAA Tournament field. The Terrapins had won three games in seven days before Saturday.
``They told us yesterday that we were in,'' said Williams, who did not reveal his sources. ``I think we've come back from enough adversity and had a good enough season to get a bid.''
see microfilm for box score
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP Georgia Tech's Stephon Marbury drives the lane inby CNBfront of Maryland's Johnny Rhodes (left) on Saturday in Greensboro,
N.C. The Yellow Jackets won the ACC tournament game 84-79.