COLLEGE PARK — It was midway through the first half and the Clemson Tigers were accomplishing two daunting tasks.
The Tigers were not only beating Maryland by 15 points, but they had all but silenced the normally hyped-up Comcast Center crowd. The crowd seemed stunned that the Terps -- now 7-0 here in Atlantic Coast Conference games -- might finally drop one at home.
But Clemson's success -- and the student section's relative silence -- did not endure. Led by guard Sean Mosley (20 points) and forward Jordan Williams, the Terps picked up the pace defensively and stormed back for an 88-79 victory to remain undefeated in ACC games in their own building.
It was the fourth straight victory and 10th win in the past 12 games for Maryland.
The Terps (20-7, 10-3 ACC) came back by doing what they do best -- pressuring defensively and converting turnovers into baskets.
The Terps, who trailed by nine at the half, tied the game at 63 on a 3-pointer by Mosley, who began the season with a flourish but had not scored in double figures in his previous seven games.
"I was looking for my shot," Mosley said. "After hitting your first shot early in the game, that got me in the flow then and there."
Maryland then took a 70-67 lead on a 3-pointer by Greivis Vasquez, who had just two points -- and eight assists -- in the first half.
By then, the Terps were rolling.
Vasquez hit Williams for a layup to make it 72-67. "Let's go!" Vasquez screamed moments later with Maryland in front, 77-67.
Vasquez had not been feeling well before the game.
"He took some stomach medicine," Maryland coach Gary Williams said of Vasquez. "He turned it around in the second half for us. We didn't have much room for error the second half."
Vasquez only shot 5-for-13, but he had 13 assists. He even picked up a mop in the second half and wiped up a wet spot on the floor, eliciting laughter and applause. "I didn't want anyone to get hurt," the senior said.
Clemson (19-8, 7-6) closed to 82-77, but the Terps held off the Tigers on foul shots.
Maryland fans chanted "We want Duke" at the end in reference to next week's final home game.
Maryland is now 14-1 at home this season. The only loss was 83-77 to William & Mary on Dec. 30.
This was a different Clemson team than the one that had snapped a three-game losing streak and shot 31.9 percent in defeating the Terps, 62-53, Jan. 31.
This Tigers team entered with a three-game winning streak and shot the ball much better than before.
Junior guard Demontez Stitt had missed the last game with a foot injury. He was back Wednesday night and scored 15 points.
Trevor Booker, Clemson's leader, had been recovering from an illness and shot 2-for-16 in the first meeting. Booker was healthy for Wednesday's game and it showed. He finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds, but said the crowd helped Maryland's cause in the second half.
"It was crazy. It was a good crowd," Booker said.
The Terps started quickly, converting four of their first five shots.
Maryland got an early lift from Mosley. He had eight of Maryland's first 12 points and the game was knotted at 12.
Clemson then went on a 19-4 run to take its biggest lead at 31-16.
Potter 5-11 0-0 13, T.Booker 5-13 3-4 13, Grant 0-2 0-0 0, Stitt 6-12 2-2 15, Smith 2-4 0-0 5, Johnson 3-5 0-0 8, Young 5-11 0-0 13, Jennings 2-7 2-2 7, D.Booker 2-4 1-2 5. Totals 30-69 8-10 79.
MARYLAND (20-7)
Milbourne 2-5 3-4 8, Williams 8-12 2-5 18, Hayes 6-9 0-2 15, Mosley 6-8 6-7 20, Vasquez 5-13 4-4 15, Bowie 1-2 0-0 2, Tucker 3-6 1-2 8, Gregory 0-3 0-0 0, Padgett 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 32-59 16-24 88.
Halftime_Clemson 48-39. 3-Point Goals_Clemson 11-30 (Potter 3-7, Young 3-9, Johnson 2-3, Stitt 1-2, Smith 1-2, Jennings 1-4, T.Booker 0-3), Maryland 8-13 (Hayes 3-3, Mosley 2-3, Tucker 1-1, Milbourne 1-2, Vasquez 1-4). Fouled Out_Grant. Rebounds_Clemson 39 (T.Booker 13), Maryland 32 (Gregory, Williams 5). Assists_Clemson 14 (T.Booker 4), Maryland 20 (Vasquez 13). Total Fouls_Clemson 20, Maryland 15. A_17,514.
