![](http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/md/sports/m-baskbl/auto_action/a-gilchrist-012203.jpg)
The Terps, who came into the game after back to back wins over North Carolina State and Virginia, are now set to face NC State in the semi-finals this afternoon at 4pm. The Terps split with the Wolfpack in their two matchups this season.
Maryland out rebounded the fifteenth ranked Demon Deacons by ten and were surprisingly 8% points better than Wake at the line. Free throw shooting has plagued the Terps all season, but they managed 24 for 32 from the chairty stripe last night, a whopping 75% from a team with the lowest free throw percentage (66%) in school history.
Free throws, in fact, were the deciding factor as Maryland guard John Gilchrist went to the line with 3.7 seconds left and the game tied at 86. Gilchrist made the first, giving the Terps the one-point lead. He then deliberately missed the second. A short rebound made it impossible for Wake Forest to push the ball up the court, and the Terps held on to their third victory in twelve days.
Though Gilchrist emerged as the star of the game, five Terps scored in double digits, with Gilchrist and Travis Garrison (who also had 10 rebounds) leading the team with 16 points a piece. Nik Caner-Medley and Chris McCray followed with thirteen points each while center, and former AC Trojan Jamar Smith finished with eleven.
While Maryland is a virtual lock for a tourney bid, there are several teams that have already wrapped up automatic bids by winning their conference tournaments. The NCAA tournament selection show is slated for Sunday evening and will be broadcast on CBS.
Tony