EAST

Maryland 87

Wisconsin 57

WASHINGTON – Even the Maryland players don’t know when, “The Run,” is going to come or who’s going to be the catalyst. The Terps just have this unbreakable belief that it will come.

And when it does, pity the opposition.

Maryland’s latest Run came with 6:15 left in the first half of its 87-57 second round NCAA Tournament victory over a patient and precise Wisconsin team. The Badgers had sent the home crowd in the MCI Center into a shell, building a four-point lead.

Then center Lonny Baxter put in an unspectacular jump hook and highlight-film forward Chris Wilcox scored on a transition layup.

The crowd rose. They could sense it. “The Run,” was coming.

“Juan [Dixon] and Byron [Mouton], two of our three seniors, along with Lonny Baxter did a tremendous job this year,” said Maryland coach Gary Williams. “We went to the Final Four last year. They took that and made themselves work harder this year.

“They make us play up to the level of which we’re capable of playing,” added Williams. “That’s what happened at the start of the second half.” When Hempstead’s Drew Nicholas drained a 3 from the right wing, to give Maryland its first lead since 8-6, it was official. “The Run” was on and Maryland was headed to the Sweet 16.

The Terps reeled off 10 straight points and never looked back in blowing out Wisconsin, which beat St. John’s on Friday. Maryland, (28-4) the top seed in the East, will face Kentucky on Friday in the Carrier Dome.

“We’re not satisfied with this,” said Dixon. “We won’t be satisfied until the end.”

Since beating Duke 87-73 on Feb. 17th, Maryland has played eight games, going 7-1. Each one has been highlighted by at least one 10-0 Terp run.

The 10-0 run was part of a monster 28-7 run that spanned the first and second halves. It turned a four-point Maryland deficit into a 47-30 lead. Fear the Turtle.

“The coaches did a great job of scouting,” said Mouton. “They watched the St. John’s game and knew Wisconsin didn’t like a lot of pressure.”

Dixon scored a game-high 29 points to lead the Terps. He became Maryland’s all-time scoring leader with 2,172 points passing Len Bias and his 2,149 points.

EAST REGION

THE SCORES

at Washington D.C.

Connecticut 77, N.C. State 74

Maryland 87, Wisconsin 57

at Chicago

Southern Illinois 77, Georgia 75

STAR OF THE DAY

Caron Bulter poured in 34 points for UConn, including five free throws in the final 11 seconds. He went 12-12 from the free throw line.

STAT’S A FACT

Connecticut hit 21 of 22 free throws, while N.C. State hit 11 of 15.

HE SAID IT

“As far as a clutch performance at this time of the year, that’s how you measure players. He made the most special plays at the most special time and got us to the Sweet Sixteen.” – Huskies coach Jim Calhoun

SWEET 16

at Syracuse, Friday

Maryland vs. Kentucky

Southern Illinois vs. Connecticut