Greivis Vasquez scored 26 points, including a clutch 3-pointer to force overtime, and Maryland presented coach Gary Williams his 400th victory at the school with a harrowing 89-74 win over Vermont on Friday night.
After rallying from 5 points down in the last two minutes of regulation, the Terrapins (3-0) scored the first 17 points in overtime. But the final score doesn't show how close Maryland was to being upset on its home floor, where it has won 56 of the last 60 non-conference games.
The Catamounts led 71-66 before David Neal, the only senior on the Maryland squad, hit a 3-pointer with 1:38 left in regulation. The score remained 71-69 until Vermont's Marqus Blakely made one of two free throws after being intentionally fouled with 16.7 seconds remaining.
Vasquez then forced overtime with a 3-pointer from the right side with 6 seconds to go.
In the extra session, Adrian Bowie made a follow-shot and Vasquez sank a 3-pointer to start the Terrapins on their way. Vermont's only points in the extra session came on a layup by Blakely with 22 seconds left.
Williams is 400-216 in 20 seasons at Maryland. Few of the previous 399 wins were as hectic as this one.
Blakely had 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Catamounts (1-2), and Mike Trimboli scored 17.
A layup by Joey Accaoi, a Maryland turnover and a 3-pointer by Trimboli gave Vermont a 47-43 lead with 12:42 left. The Terrapins then got two free throws from Bowie before the Catamounts went on a 8-2 spree to make it 55-47.
Maryland used six straight foul shots and a jumper by Vasquez to pull even, but baskets by Joseph and Blakely sparked a 6-1 surge that made it 61-56 with 6:29 remaining.
But it wasn't enough.
Maryland led 37-35 at halftime despite committing 10 turnovers and getting outrebounded 18-15.
After missing their first eight shots in the opener against Bucknell and opening 0-for-6 against Youngstown State, the Terrapins used 7-for-8 shooting to grab an 18-11 lead. But Maryland had seven turnovers in the opening 10 minutes, several of which fueled a 15-5 spurt than enabled Vermont to go up 26-23.
The Terrapins then used a 14-2 run to move back in front. Eric Hayes hit a pair of 3-pointers, Landon Milbourne contributed two baskets and Maryland's defense held the Catamounts without a field goal for more than seven minutes.
