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NCAA - South
March 24, 2003
NASHVILLE -- No need to beat the buzzer this time. Maryland is off on another run in the NCAA Tournament.
The defending national champion Terrapins, who got a winning 3-pointer from Drew Nicholas in the most exciting finish of the first round, shut down David West early and beat Xavier 77-64 Sunday to reach the round of 16 for the third straight season.
"That shot gave us a lot of confidence coming into this game," Maryland coach Gary Williams said. "But this was a totally different game, and we were playing great defense and turning it into offense."
Nicholas and Ryan Randle scored 17 each for sixth-seeded Maryland.
Steve Blake, the most experienced player in the tournament, had nine points and nine assists as the Terrapins (21-9) shot 51.7 percent (30-of-58) from the floor.
"We're the only team in the tournament who's the defending champs," Blake said. "We want to prove how good we are and make a name for ourselves."
West, the three-time Atlantic 10 player of the year, had 22 points and nine rebounds for No.3 seed Xavier (26-6), but most of it came way too late.
"If Maryland is a sixth seed in this tournament, man, they're the best one I've seen," Xavier coach Thad Matta said.
Just making the NCAA Tournament was the challenge Williams gave his Terrapins this season after losing four starters, including Lonny Baxter, Juan Dixon and Chris Wilcox, from their championship squad.
The Terps went in with their lowest seed since a No.7 in 1996. They're in the round of 16 for the 13th time.
"We felt like the Sweet 16 wasn't a really high expectation," senior Tahj Holden said. "The Final Four isn't a really high expectation. The national championship is our goal."
The Musketeers scored the first five, but Maryland answered with a 19-4 run and led by as many as 20 in the first half. Xavier almost made it interesting as West, held to 2-of-8 shooting in the first, got going in the second.
He hit the boards hard on the defensive end, started driving to the basket and got Randle, Jamar Smith and Travis Garrison in foul trouble. West scored nine straight to trim the lead to 54-44 with 12:21 left.
The Musketeers kept whittling away as West either shot or passed to teammates who could score. Romain Sato hit the first of two free throws at 6:06 to get Xavier within 60-57.
That was as close as it got.
TEXAS 77, PURDUE 67: Triple-threat T.J. Ford and his teammates are going home ... to keep playing in the NCAA Tournament.
Ford shook loose in the second half and the Longhorns followed his lead, turning back the Boilermakers in Birmingham, Ala.
Considered by some to be the best guard in college basketball, Ford scored 21 and added nine rebounds and eight assists.
"We're not a one-man team," Ford said.