Dec. 4, 1999

Box Score

By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer

WASHINGTON - On the surface, it was nothing more than an early season game to determine the finalist in a relatively obscure tournament.

To the players and the coaches, it was so much more.

Juan Dixon hit a running jumper with 6.3 seconds left and Terence Morris scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half as No. 24 Maryland edged No. 16 Illinois 69-67 Saturday in the BB&T Classic.

The game featured 22 lead changes and was tied 10 times. Neither team led by more than three points over the final eight minutes, and by the end virtually everyone at the MCI Center was on their feet.

"You couldn't bring two teams in here and really play harder than these two did today," Maryland coach Gary Williams said. "That was more like a March game in terms of intensity."

Maryland (6-1) will face George Washington, a 72-63 winner over Seton Hall, in Sunday night's championship game. The Terrapins can only hope to have recovered some of the emotion they exuded against the determined Fighting Illini (2-2).

"I'll enjoy this until around 10 o'clock tonight," Dixon said. "Then it will be time to prepare for George Washington."

After Morris helped Maryland recover from an eight-point deficit in the second half, Dixon capped the comeback by scoring from the right baseline. In his mind, there was never any question who was going to launch the Terrapins' final shot.

"Juan is one of the players on the court for us who wants to shoot the ball in a pressure situation," Williams said.

"Either you want it or you don't want it," Dixon said. "The guys who are great want it."

Illinois had one last chance, but Frank Williams' 25-footer at the buzzer bounded off the back of the rim.

"That was an outstanding early season battle," Illinois coach Lon Kruger said. "They have a lot of outstanding players around Morris and Dixon, and we had a lot of trouble stopping them down the stretch."

The Terrapins took a 67-64 lead with 41 seconds remaining when Danny Miller hit a desperation 3-pointer as the shot clock expired. Williams answered with a 3 for Illinois, setting the stage for Dixon's game-winner.

Williams scored 18 points for Illinois and Cleotis Brown had 13.

Dixon had 19 points for the Terrapins, who have won three straight since their loss to Kentucky, and Lonny Baxter had 16 points and 12 rebounds, half on Maryland misses.

The Terrapins had 14 offensive rebounds and finished with a 40-29 edge on the boards.

"Their ability to get second shots was a key," Kruger said.

The Fighting Illini made seven of their first 10 shots in the second half to take a 49-41 lead. After Brown scored nine points in an 11-5 run, Morris made two free throws for the Terrapins before Cory Bradford nailed a 3-pointer to give Illinois an eight-point lead.

Maryland then went inside, getting six points from Morris and three from Baxter in a 9-2 surge that made it 51-50. Dixon put the Terrapins up 55-54 with a 3-pointer from the corner with 6:33 left.

"I felt I had to do something," Morris said. "If they don't stop us inside, we're going to score."

Neither team led by more than three points in a first half that featured 13 lead changes and ended with Illinois up 33-32. Baxter and Dixon each scored 10 points but the Terrapins were hurt by 13 turnovers, nine on steals.