February 20 2011 Last updated at 08:30 PM ET
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Greivis Vasquez, last season's Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year who finished as the program's second all-time leading scorer, returned to Maryland Sunday night to see his jersey raised to the rafters along with the other Terp legends. It was an occasion to remember his stellar career, which ended with Maryland sharing the conference regular-season championship and narrowly losing in the second round of the NCAA tournament.Then Vasquez -- now a member of the Memphis Grizzlies who has been off during the NBA's All-Star break -- took his seat in Comcast Center and watched the freshman guards who are trying to replace him this season nearly throw away a chance for Maryland to return to the tourney this year.
Terrell Stoglin and Pe'Shon Howard, who started Sunday in the ACC matchup with North Carolina State, were the main culprits in a run of sloppiness over the last five minutes of the first half that put the Terps in danger of suffering a devastating loss. The Wolfpack, fourth-worst in the league going into the game, ran off 14 straight points, erased a 10-point deficit and led at halftime 40-38.
Maryland righted itself in the final 10 minutes of the game and pulled away for an 87-80 victory that gave them a chance to at least solidify their spot on the NCAA bubble. Led by Jordan Williams' 26 points, Dino Gregory's 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Stoglin's career-high 25 points, Maryland (17-10, 6-6) stayed above water going into a week with games at home against Florida State and at No. 19 North Carolina.
N.C. State (14-12, 4-8) faded late and further jeopardized head coach Sidney Lowe's future. Tracy Smith scored 19 points and freshman C.J. Leslie 18.
What It Means: That Maryland's NCAA push did not come to a crashing halt. A loss to a lowly team like N.C. State would have been devastating, with two must-wins over strong conference teams coming up next week. With no signature wins over quality opponents and now a .500 ACC record, Maryland has to win out and likely make a deep run in the conference tournament.
Added Inspiration: Maryland also honored the team's first-ever Final Four team, from 2001, on its 10th anniversary. Four players, including current Detroit Piston Chris Wilcox, and former assistant and current Loyola (Md.) head coach Jimmy Patsos were on hand.
How It Was Won: After N.C. State led going into the second half, the lead seesawed back and forth, and with 6:39 left a Smith putback of his own miss tied the game at 71. The Wolfpack then went the next four and a half minutes without scoring, and Maryland rattled off eight in a row, six from Sean Mosley. The Terps led 79-71 and never trailed again.
How It Was Lost: Carelessness -- in the second half. N.C. State took its first-half lead by scoring 17 points off 10 Maryland turnovers. The Wolfpack returned the favor in the second half with 10 of its 16 overall. Maryland tightened up somewhat, turning it over six times in the second half, with help from senior guard Adrian Bowie, who came off the bench behind Stoglin and Howard.
Up Next: Maryland hosts Florida State Wednesday, while N.C. State hosts North Carolina the same night.
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