If No. 2 Maryland can stop history from repeating itself, the Terrapins will bag another tournament victory and keep the heat on top-ranked Connecticut.
A year ago, Maryland beat second-ranked Kansas in the opening round of the Franklin Bank Classic and then lost the championship game to unheralded George Washington. The tournament is now called the BB&T Classic, and the Terrapins are once again in the final after an emotional 62-60 victory over No. 5 Stanford on Sunday in Washington.Maryland (9-0) now faces unranked DePaul, an 87-79 winner over GW, in tonight's championship game. Lance Williams had 19 points and 15 rebounds to lead DePaul (5-1) to its fifth straight victory.
Stanford (4-2) seeks to break a two-game losing streak in the consolation game against George Washington (4-2).
Junior college transfer Steve Francis scored a season-high 24 points for the Terrapins, who were outrebounded 42-29 but went 17-for-20 at the free throw line while Stanford was a mere 4-for-8.
"It was a good experience for everyone on our team, especially me, to see how it is to be in a close game," Francis said.
In the second game, DePaul had six players score in double figures and never trailed after the first seven minutes. The Blue Demons start three freshman for coach Pat Kennedy, who spent 11 years at Florida State before taking over at DePaul last season.
DePaul is off to its best start since the 1993-94 season, when it won 10 of its first 11 games. The Blue Demons' only loss was against then-No.18 New Mexico.
Yegor Mescheriakov scored a season-high 26 points, 20 in the first half, for George Washington. Francisco de Miranda had a career-high 17.
TENNESSEE 56, (20) PITTSBURGH 53: In Knoxville, Tenn., Tony Harris scored 17 points and Tennessee hit seven of eight free throws in the final four minutes to pull off the upset.
Tennessee (6-2) got two free throws each from Harris and C.J. Black and one from Aaron Green to seal the victory in the last two minutes.
The Panthers (7-2), led by Isaac Hawkins with 20 points, scored just three points in the final three minutes.