Tech loses to Maryland at buzzer

By Carroll Rogers

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Derrick Favors stood under the basket, waiting.

Maryland's Cliff Tucker had just bounced a 3-pointer off the rim and through the net to shock the Yellow Jackets 76-74 on Saturday afternoon, but it hadn't sunk in.

Not for the freshman Favors, who had the game of his young Georgia Tech career with 21 points and 18 rebounds, and had just tipped in the go-ahead basket with three seconds left.

"I was in shock," Favors said. "I couldn't even believe it went through."

In those last three seconds Maryland managed to in essence make two buzzer-beating shots to hand Tech one very heartbreaking loss. As Favors stood motionless, the Terrapins were celebrating in a blur of yellow jerseys circling the court.

Greivis Vasquez, Maryland's senior leader and the ACC's third-leading scorer, had earlier banked in a 3-pointer from a few steps inside the half-court line, but officials had blown the play dead because Maryland assistant coach Keith Booth called a timeout.

Officials put 1.5 seconds back on the clock, and Maryland got one last play from midcourt. Georgia Tech had its defense mapped out just like it wanted -- the 6-foot-10 Favors guarding senior Eric Hayes on the inbound pass, D'Andre Bell smothering Vasquez, per coach Paul Hewitt's instructions, and Glen Rice Jr., a rangy 6-5 defender, on Tucker on the left wing.

But Tucker, Maryland's streaky shooter off the bench and the first option on that play, pump-faked and then made his first buzzer-beating shot since AAU basketball.

"It was supposed to be for a lob, but it was too far out," said Tucker of the point where Maryland inbounded. "I told [Hayes], get it to me behind the 3-point line."

He sent a sellout Comcast Center crowd of 17,950 into a frenzy, celebrating Maryland's perfect 6-0 ACC record at home this season and ninth win in a row over Georgia Tech. The Terrapins (19-7, 9-3) moved into sole possession of second place in the ACC.

The Yellow Jackets (18-9, 6-7) fell to 1-6 on the road in the ACC and out of any hope of finishing in the ACC's top four and getting a first-round bye in the ACC tournament.

"We're starting to play our best basketball at the right time of the year," Hewitt said. "We were just a little unlucky today."

He pointed to the Yellow Jackets committing only 13 turnovers, pulling down 21 offensive rebounds, and having success getting the ball inside.

"We did everything we were supposed to do against a team that's arguably playing better than anybody in our league with the exception of Duke," Hewitt said. "The kid made a tough shot."

Favors drew only one foul and played 32 minutes, one off his season-high. He made nine of 15 field goals and all three of his free throws, and he had nine rebounds each on offense and defense.

"You saw the real Derrick Favors," Hewitt said.

Another positive sign for Tech was the play of point guard Iman Shumpert, who came back from scoreless games against Wake Forest and North Carolina to put up 17 points to go with three assists and no turnovers.

Ultimately it wasn't enough to outshine Maryland's senior backcourt. Vasquez finished with 18 points and eight assists, and Hayes scored 15 points.

Shumpert was the one who missed the jump shot that Favors tipped home for what would have been the game-winner. But instead of celebrating, he was left explaining the mood in Tech's stunned postgame locker room.

"Indescribable," Shumpert said. "It was a real loud silence."

After Saturday's wild finish, that actually made perfect sense.