CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., March 9 (UPI) -- Travis Watson scored 26 points and Todd Billet added 18 Sunday night as Virginia snapped a seven-game losing streak with an 80-78 overtime victory over 12th-ranked Maryland.
Maryland was assured the second seed in the ACC tournament after North Carolina knocked off Duke earlier in the day. Virginia (15-14, 6-10 ACC) clinched the sixth seed, and avoided a play-in game with its second victory over the defending national champion this season.
This win could not have come at a better time.
"I thought our kids played with great emotion and fire, which has been missing for a long time," said Virginia Coach Pete Gillen. "If you play with fire, emotion and passion, you can overcome a lot of things. To beat them twice in one year is special."
"Their second shots were a key part of the game," said Maryland Coach Gary Williams. "Every time we made a little run, we couldn't keep them from getting second shots."
The Cavaliers took the lead for good at 75-73 when freshman Derrick Byars scored the first points of overtime on a layup with 3:30 left. They had a 79-74 lead with 2 1/2 minutes left, but Jamar Smith made one of two free throws and Steve Blake made a three-pointer to bring the Terrapins within 79-78 with 75 seconds left.
Elton Brown missed two free throws for Virginia with 18 seconds to go and Maryland's Drew Nicholas missed a long three-pointer at the other end. Watson secured the rebound and was fouled before making one of two free throws with 3.7 seconds remaining.
Blake missed a three-pointer as time wound down and Maryland (19-8, 11-5) missed a follow shot as time expired.
Nicholas finished with 27 points to lead the Terrapins, who had a three-game winning streak snapped.
Virginia shot just 39 percent (28-of-71) from the floor, and made just 7-of-23 three-pointers despite the performance of Billet, who was 6-of-10 from the arc.
However, the Cavaliers did huge board work.
Devin Smith grabbed seven rebounds, and Billet and Jason Rogers had six apiece for Virginia, which held a held a 59-36 advantage on the glass. The Cavaliers grabbed a whopping 23 offensive rebounds, leading to 25 second-chance points.
Maryland will be the second seed when the ACC Tournament commences Thursday in Greensboro, N.C., and will play seventh-seeded North Carolina in a quarterfinal game Friday night.
"We're going down there to win the tournament," Williams said. "That would be something last year's team didn't do."
The Cavaliers, who recorded their first season sweep of the Terps since 1993, will play Duke Friday night.
