Great Day At Maryland

Yesterday Maryland played my alma mater Elon in basketball at Comcast Center. It wasn't supposed to be much of a game but sometimes strange things happen and the little team knocks off the favorite. See December 22, 2007 when American University came into Comcast Center with a chip on its shoulder so to speak and knocked off the Terps. I was able to get sweet courtside seats from my prior employer and I arrived in College Park at 4:30 for an 8:00 game because Maryland was playing in the Humanitarian Bowl vs Nevada and I wanted to watch that before heading into the arena.

I went to one of the local bars, got a seat and I watched as Maryland and Nevada battled it out. I thought it was a victory for Maryland when they were up 28-14 in the third quarter, but QB Chris Turner turned the ball over three times and when I left to go to the arena it was tied 28-28. Upon arrival at Comcast Center, I went to a lounge area and it was 42-28 Terps. Maryland won 42-35 to finish the season 8-5 and they are 4-2 in bowl games under Head Coach Ralph Friedgen.

More on the game here:

The Washington Post

UM Terps web site.

Around the Harbor

At 8:00 PM Maryland and Elon tipped off. From the start it wasn't a pretty game as both teams shot poorly and Elon turned the ball over a lot. Elon had the lead by four early on but the Terps were the bigger and faster squad and they led by 13 at the half. Elon was scrappy in the second half, trailing by 7 with fifteen minutes left but Maryland's outside shooting, led by Greivis Vasquez (17 points) got the Terps on a 21-2 run that sealed the ball game. Final score Maryland 76, Elon 50.

For more on the game:
Washington Post

UM Terps

It was a fun evening, I talked with a few DC area Elon alum who were at a little gathering at the bar I was at. The organizer of their outing was wondering why the place was so crowded with fans and I explained that Maryland's football team was playing and none of us could afford (or really wanted) to go to Boise for the game. She was thinking prior to the event with students being away they'd have a good portion of the place to themselves. Still, I was impressed by the turnout of Elon fans at the game. Hopefully this game will help them when conference play starts. For 10-2 Maryland, they have two more out of conference games before ACC competition starts.

Some photos I took:

Tipoff


Maryland's Gary Williams, still barking out instructions with his team up by 25


Final score of the first meeting between the two schools


Post game handshakes


Benjamin wearing his new Terps shirt


Now I begin work on getting tickets to see that other school in North Carolina whose name has four letters in it...