Basketball Has Valentine’s Day Date With Terps

Feb. 13, 2006

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Maryland at ClemsonFebruary 14, 2006

Clemson swept three games from Maryland last year, thefirst time in history Clemson swept three games in the same yearfrom the Terps. If Clemson gains victory on Tuesday it would giveClemson four straight wins in the series, something Clemson has notdone against any ACC opponent since a six-game winning streakagainst NC State from 1993- 95. It would mark the first timeClemson has beaten Maryland your straight games since 1949-51.Oliver Purnell is 4-2 against Maryland. That includes a victoryover a sixth ranked Maryland team in Maui in 2001 when he was thehead coach at Dayton. He was an assistant coach at Maryland underLefty Driesell and Bob Wade from 1985-88. Clemson is on a five-gamelosing streak. A victory at Clemson last year over Maryland ended afivegame Tiger losing streak. Shawan Robinson is expected to startat point guard in place of the injured Vernon Hamilton. Hamiltonhas played in 84 consecutive games. Last year in three gamesagainst Maryland, Robinson scored 63 points, made 21-33 shots fromthe field, including 14-20 on three-point shots. Clemson centerAkin Akingbala has scored in double figures in six consecutivegames. He is averaging 15.6 points and 7.5 rebounds and is shooting75 percent from the foul line during that time. He is coming off acareer high 21 point performance against Boston College andpreseason first-team All-American Craig Smith. Clemson hadstruggled from the foul line as a team for most of the year, butthe Tigers have now made 47 of their last 60 (.783) over fourgames. Clemson has made at least 70 percent from the line in fourconsecutive games, its longest streak since 2000- 01 and just thethird four-game streak in 22 years. Clemson has a 13-4 record onValentine’s Day in games played at home. K.C. Rivers has scored indouble figures in consecutive games for the first time all year. Hehad 13 at Boston College, his high scoring game in an ACC contestthis year. He made three three-point goals in that game, his highfigure since November. Clemson committed just nine turnoversagainst Boston College, its low figure in 84 games under OliverPurnell. But, the Tigers defense forced just eight turnovers, itslow figure all year. Shawan Robinson continues to lead the ACC infree throw percentage wit ha .938 figure, a mark that would bethird best in ACC history for a season. Vernon Hamilton moved intofourth place in Clemson history in career steals with four atBoston College. He now has 183 for his career, just 11 away fromTerrell McIntrye’s career record total.