Tigers Topple Maryland 89-77

Feb. 14, 2006

Final Stats |  Notes

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) – Shawan Robinson, starting in place of injured point guard Vernon Hamilton, had a season-high 24 points as Clemson broke a five-game losing streak with an 89-77 victory over Maryland on Tuesday night.

Robinson had five 3-pointers, including one during a 22-3 second-half run as the Tigers (15-10, 4-8 Atlantic Coast Conference) took control.

It was their fourth straight win over the reeling Terps (15-9, 5-6), and matched the school record for the longest run of success in the series, which Clemson first accomplished with four in a row from 1949-51.

Maryland has lost five of its past six, its NCAA tournament chances sinking lower with each defeat.

The chances of the Tigers continuing their winning ways against the Terps took a hit before the game began. Hamilton, the Tigers leading scorer, ended a streak of 84 straight games played. He sat on the bench in a pumpkin colored shirt and dark pants, his sprained thumb and injured elbow wrapped.

But Robinson showed he was more than up to the challenge. His four 3-pointers in the first half help Clemson survive Maryland’s 58 percent shooting performance the first 20 minutes.

Then Robinson continued Clemson’s game-changing run with his outside shooting.

D.J. Strawberry’s bucket with 17:24 gave Maryland its last lead 50-49.

K.C. Rivers started the Tigers run, then Robinson followed with his long-range shot.

Cliff Hammonds and Akin Akingbala added four points each and Rivers made another 3. When Troy Mathis drilled an open shot from behind the arc, Clemson was up 71-53 with 10:06 to go.

The Terps weren’t through. After going nearly seven minutes without a basket, Maryland used an 13-2 run to cut Clemson’s lead to 73-66.

That was as close as the Terps could get. Sam Perry had a jam and Rivers a driving shot to put the Tigers back up by double digits.

Maryland trailed 84-75 in the final minute, but Nik Caner-Medley missed three outside shots – including two 3-pointers – and Clemson held on.

Hammonds had 17 points and Akingbala had 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Tigers.

Caner-Medley led Maryland with 21 points, but only eight of those came in the second half. He also had 12 rebounds.

Mike Jones had 19 points, including four of the Terps six threes.

Clemson finished with 12 3-pointers, its highest total in 12 ACC games this season.