East Coast Conference

Terry Truax knows the old line about there being two sports in the Southwest Conference, football and spring football.He would like to make basketball a third. The sport has had its problems in the SWC, but Truax would like to trade the ones he has at Towson State for any he would find at the conference's offices in Dallas.Truax, whose eight-season record as head coach at Towson State is 109-126, may find out as early as today if the new job of Southwest Conference director of basketball operations is his. He and John Erickson, a Big Eight official, are the two finalists for the position.

The first time Towson State University's basketball team went to Dayton Arena this season, it was untested, unsure of itself and unaware of how good it would be without Kurk Lee and three other seniors.This time, all those questions have been answered, but the mission won't be any easier.Dayton administered a 99-79 loss to Towson in the season opener, and last night the Tigers drew Ohio State, the nation's No. 2 team, as their first-round opponent in the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament on the Flyers' court.

North Carolina upends Maryland for first conference win, 0) 64-61CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The University of Maryland (15-10, 8-4) was upset by North Carolina (11-13, 1-10) in an Atlantic Coast Conference game yesterday, 64-61, before 2,753 at Carmichael Auditorium.A three-point goal by Leigh Waddell at the halftime buzzer turned out to be the winning margin, as both teams scored 32 in the second half. Earlier, Carolina had jumped out to a 15-2 lead, but Maryland rallied to tie it with 17 seconds left in the half.

Roy Kramer has had a lot of difficult jobs in his life. As athletic director at Vanderbilt, he tried to revive the sagging fortunes of the Commodores' football and basketball teams. And, in his current position as commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, he has overseen the league's expansion into the largest and most complex in the nation.But those jobs are a lot less stressful than being chairman of the selection committee for the NCAA Division I basketball tournament. Dave Gavitt, who held the position for several years while he was commissioner of the Big East Conference, once said, "It's the kind of job where you can make enemies a lot faster than you can make friends."

There has been a visible reversal of fortune among the state's Division I basketball teams since last March. Two programs that were on solid footing a year ago find themselves scrambling to solidify their futures, and six are encouraged by fewer roadblocks in their path.Practice officially begins tomorrow, and as has often been the case for local colleges in recent years, notable offseason developments haven't been restricted to recruiting.On the plus side:* Maryland still can't go to the NCAA tournament, but at least the Terps' games can be televised live and they will be allowed to play in the ACC tournament this season.

HOFSTRA VS. UMBC* WHEN: Tomorrow, 2 p.m.* WHERE: Towson Center.* RADIO: WITH-AM 1230.* OUTLOOK: Hofstra (14-13, 7-5) dropped from second place to the fourth seed with a three-point loss to Delaware last week. Seniors Erroll Flanigan, Derrick Flowers (of Milford Mill) and Anthony Knight are averaging 12 points each. Fifth-seeded UMBC (6-21, 4-8) found some continuity and a four-game win streak in February. Hofstra swept the season series, winning by 19 at home, and by six at UMBC.DELAWARE VS. CENTRAL CONNECTICUT* WHEN: Tomorrow, 4:30 p.m.* WHERE: Towson Center.

Towson State (18-17-1, 10-4) used two four-run innings to sweep past visiting University of Maryland Baltimore County (18-16, 4-8) in an East Coast Conference doubleheader yesterday, 5-1 and 7-6.The big blows were Jay Logwood's two-run triple and Bruce Rupp's two-run homer in support of Jay Baker's three-hit pitching in the first game, and Erik Sheetz's game-winning, three-run homer in the last inning of the nightcap.

PHILADELPHIA -- Dan Leahy's three-point goal and two free throws helped Drexel University (7-13, 3-3) on an 11-2 run late in the second half, and the Dragons went on to a 75-63 East Coast Conference victory over the University of Maryland Baltimore County (2-17, 1-5) at Drexel's Physical Education Center last night.The win was No. 200 in the 14-year career of Eddie Burke (200-186), all at Drexel, and the team's third in a row.UMBC led at the half for only the second time this season, 26-23, and went up, 33-25, before the Dragons rallied to tie at 36 after less than four minutes of the second half.

NEWARK, Del. -- Forward Mark Murray scored 17 of his game-high 22 points in the second half, including two key baskets in the final two minutes, as Delaware (11-12, 6-4) defeated the University of Maryland Baltimore County (2-21, 1-8), 73-68, in an East Coast Conference game last night at Delaware Field House.CMurray broke a 66-66 tie with a three-point play with 1:43 left and added a basket inside with 20 seconds remaining to lead the Blue Hens to their fourth straight ECC win and third straight overall.

Defending champion Towson State (12-6-1) will be home against Drexel (13-4-1) for the East Coast Conference soccer championship today at 1 p.m. Not only literally, but relatively, this an important game for both teams.Mike Pellegrini is a junior forward for Drexel. Brother Rich is a freshman goalkeeper for Towson State. They are John Carroll graduates from Bel Air.Steve Keppler is a senior midfielder for Drexel. Brother Mike is a freshman forward for Towson State. They are from Gambrills and attended Arundel.