MARYLAND 69, UF 68 (OT): Gators lose first after gaining top ranking for second straight year.
By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published December 11, 2003
GAINESVILLE - The next time the Associated Press decides to bestow a No.1 ranking on the Gators basketball team, coach Billy Donovan might consider asking for a pass.
For the second straight year, Florida (5-1) lost in its first game after rising to the top. The Gators also are the third No.1 team to go down in three weeks.
Trailing Maryland by 17 midway through the second half, Florida mounted an impressive comeback but fell short with a 69-68 overtime loss to the Terrapins in front of 12,275 at the O'Connell Center.
It's likely to be another one-week stay at No.1 for the Gators.
"Obviously next week, the yellow jersey gets passed to somebody else," Donovan said.
"It's been a tough week," Maryland coach Gary Williams said of his team's back-to-back losses going in. "For our players to have that kind of fortitude with (guard) John Gilchrist on the bench throughout the overtime period (fouled out), I was impressed. Somehow we found the toughness to win."
Trailing by one in overtime, the Terrapins (5-2) tied up a loose ball on a Florida inbounds and took possession on the alternating possession rule with 23 seconds left. With 18.7 seconds left, sophomore forward Travis Garrison hit a 13-foot jumper for the winning margin.
"For Travis, who's really been struggling, for him to hit that shot, hopefully that'll be a starter for him," Williams said. "I was really proud of him that he had the guts to take that shot in that situation."
Florida's final possession ended when sophomore guard Christian Drejer dribbled down the baseline, then passed inside the lane to Adrian Moss, whose shot was blocked by Jamar Smith. A foul by Moss sent Smith to the free-throw line, where he missed both, but time ran out on the Gators.
"I thought we left it on the floor in the second half," Donovan said. "They did an unbelievable job just getting the game into overtime. Nobody quit, nobody was pointing fingers. We had chances down the stretch to win it in regulation."
After mounting a 17-2 run and tying at 57 with 2:26 left in regulation, Florida went 3-of-8 from the free-throw line, including Drejer's 1-of-2 to tie at 60 with 17.5 seconds left.
Meanwhile, Maryland didn't score from the field from 9:14 until 3:12 left in overtime.
"I've seen it before," Williams said. "We get into ruts where we just don't get into our offense. We've got young players and it's hard to stop that run."
Florida also had missed opportunities in overtime, including guard Matt Walsh being called for goaltending on a free throw that seemed to be a miss and Anthony Roberson being called for a foul at halfcourt with the Gators up by two late.
"To me, losing by one point hurt more than anything," said Roberson, who had a team-high 20 points. "I'd rather have them come in here and blow us out than lose by one because it was just so close. You go to the end of the game and a couple plays determine the game. We came out sluggish in the first half and it caught up with us in the end."
Indeed it did. Little went right for the Gators in the first half.
Florida shot 25 percent from the field, hitting six field goals in the first 13 minutes. Its attempts to drive the lane were met with blocks and strong defense from the Terrapins. Its outside shots weren't falling. Its attempts at scoring after rebounds sailed over the basket or bounced off the rim.
"Our offense was absolutely ridiculous in the first half," Donovan said.
After Drejer (13 points, seven rebounds) scored on a tip-in at the 17:41 mark to give the Gators a 4-3 lead, Florida didn't make another field goal until Roberson scored with 14:04 left in the half to pull the Gators within 17-10. Maryland outscored Florida 12-0 to take a 15-4 lead and Gilchrist scored 12 of his 18 in the first half.
Junior David Lee scored nine in 33 minutes for the Gators, and leading scorer Walsh had nine in 40 minutes.
Forward Nik Caner-Medley led all scorers with 22 points and also pulled down 13 rebounds. Smith added 14 points and freshman D.J. Strawberry saw significant time at the point (26 minutes), particularly with Gilchrist out.
"D.J was good," Williams said. "He had to be out there tonight."
His father, former major-leaguer Darryl Strawberry, agreed.
"I've had my day in the sun, now it's his turn," he said, dressed in his Maryland jacket. "He's excited, he's having a lot of fun. And for them to come in here and get a win like this is great."
