ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, February 2, 1997 TAG: 9702040033
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: COLLEGE PARK, MD.
SOURCE: ED MILLER LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
It's simple, really, the matchup between Wake Forest and Maryland.
``We have size, they have quickness,'' Wake Forest coach Dave Odom said.
Score one for size. Specifically, for 6-foot-10 Tim Duncan, who tallied 25 second-half points Saturday to lead No.2 Wake to a 74-69 victory over No. 5 Maryland in front of 14,500 at Cole Field House.
Duncan had just four points in the first half, and Wake (18-1 overall, 8-1 ACC) trailed by 12 at the break. Maryland coach Gary Williams had an inkling of what was coming, however.
``[Duncan] is the best big man in the country,'' Williams said. ``It's a matter of time before he tries to assert himself.''
Duncan wasted no time doing just that in the second half, scoring seven points in a 9-0 run that got Wake Forest back in it. He also carried Wake down the stretch, scoring five of the Demon Deacons' final six points. He finished with 29 points and 15 rebounds.
Odom said he didn't have to say anything to his big man at halftime.
``You don't have to throw a cup of water at him to wake him up,'' Odom said. ``He understands.''
Maryland and Wake's contrasting styles once again made for an entertaining, if foul-plagued, game. Maryland (17-4, 6-3) handed Wake its only loss on Jan. 19, beating the Demon Deacons 54-51 on a shot at the buzzer in Winston-Salem, N.C.
On Saturday, however, Maryland showed how quickly a few fouls can transform the Terps from small and scrappy (the Terps have only one starter over 6-6) to small and thin. Maryland got in foul trouble early in the second half, and was forced to buy time with seldom-used reserves Kelly Hite and Brian Watkins while star forwards Keith Booth and LaRon Profit sat on the bench.
Booth, who scored a team-high 22 points, picked up his fourth foul with 10:08 left and sat for nearly seven minutes. Profit picked up his fourth less than five minutes into the second half and played only nine of the final 20 minutes.
Maryland center Obinna Ekezie, who was trying to guard Duncan, also played only 15 minutes because of foul trouble. Three of them came against Duncan, whom Ekezie said was getting favorable treatment from the officials.
``You can't give him everything,'' Ekezie said. ``Give me a chance to play some defense.''
Despite the foul problems, Maryland hung close until the final minute. After Wake tied the score at 51 with 13:25 left, the Terrapins responded and forged a five-point lead, 58-53, with 11:10 left.
Duncan once again took over. After a jumper by Tony Rutland gave Wake a 68-67 lead, Duncan spun around Ekezie on the baseline to put the Deacons up 70-67 with 1:06 left.
After an Ekezie layup, Duncan made one of two free throws to put Wake up 71-69 with 36.3 seconds remaining. Maryland had had a chance to tie, and got the ball to Booth on the wing.
Booth hesitated, then drove to the basket. Wake's 7-1 freshman, Loren Woods, came over to challenge him, and Booth's layup attempt went long.
Duncan, fouled by Ekezie, made two free throws to ice the game.
Maryland had done a great job defending Duncan in the first half. When he got the ball in the lane, Duncan was jostled like a man trying to make his way through a crowded subway car.
That's when he got the ball at all.
``They weren't running many plays for him,'' Maryland guard Terrell Stokes said.
With Duncan, Woods (12 rebounds) and 6-10 Ricky Peral all in the game at once, Wake controlled the backboards. The Deacons outrebounded Maryland 50-36, 31-19 in the second half.
``They're big,'' Williams said. ``And they wear you down.''
Maryland used its quickness to its advantage in the first half, forcing 15 Wake turnovers. But the Deacons had just four in the second half, while limiting Maryland to 27 percent shooting.
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Wake Forest star Tim Duncan reacts after blocking aby CNBshot in the second half of Saturday's ACC game in College Park, Md. KEYWORDS: BASKETBALL