Vasquez gets 21 points, 7 assists as Maryland overcomes late Florida State rally 71-67

Vasquez, Maryland hold off Florida State 71-67

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Greivis Vasquez scored 23 points as Maryland overcame a late rally to beat Florida State 71-67 on Thursday night.

Maryland (15-6, 5-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) led by as many as nine points in the second half, but FSU (16-6, 4-4) tied the game twice in the final 3 minutes and had the ball with 38 seconds left, trailing 66-64.

Freshman Michael Snaer drove to the hoop and made a runner but was called for charging with 14.5 seconds left.

The Terrapins outscored FSU 18-7 in the first 5:21 of the second half, turning the Seminoles’ four-point halftime lead into a seven-point Maryland lead. Vasquez punctuated the run with a 3-pointer from the wing, his only 3 of the game.

Junior guard Derwin Kitchen scored a career-high 29 points for FSU, but the Seminoles shot just 37.7 percent as a team. Starters Deividas Dulkys and Chris Singleton went a combined 1-for-14 for five points.

After going scoreless for the game’s first 3:22, Maryland finally got going, thanks to Landon Milbourne and freshman Jordan Williams. The two scored 13 of the Terrapins’ first 15 points and gave Maryland an early 15-11 lead.

FSU allowed Maryland back into the game with dismal shooting, as the Seminoles hit just four of their first 20 shots.

Florida State recovered with a quick 7-0 run, making three of four baskets in that span.

Maryland regained the lead, pulling ahead 25-24 with 1:17 remaining in the first, but FSU darted away on a 5-0 run to end the half. Kitchen’s steal and layup with 50 seconds left allowed FSU to enter halftime with a 29-25 lead.

The Terrapins were effective in blanketing FSU center Solomon Alabi. The sophomore, who shot 70 percent from the floor for 17 points in the teams’ first meeting, made just one of his first seven shots against constant pressure. Alabi scored 12 points, but shot just 4-for-15 for the game.

Vasquez added seven assists and seven rebounds for Maryland, while Milbourne scored 18 points.

(This version CORRECTS Maryland 71, Florida State 67. corrects Vasquez point total in 1st graph, FSU record in 2nd graph.)