Maryland closes out closer-less Clemson

CLEMSON -- Clemson coach Brad Brownell lamented the lack of what he dubbed a "closer" earlier this week, a label he defined as a player who excels in late-game, close-game situations.

The lack of a closer continued to haunt Clemson in a 64-62 loss to Maryland on Tuesday night. The loss was Clemson's fifth defeat in ACC play by a margin of five points or less, and it was Clemson's first home loss to an ACC team not named North Carolina or Duke in the Brownell Era.

After a furious Clemson rally to cut a Maryland 14-point lead to three with 10.7 seconds to play, Tigers guard Andre Young was fouled taking a 3-point shot. The senior, 88 percent from the free-throw line this season, went to the free-throw line with a chance to tie the score but missed two of three free throws.

Clemson (11-12, 3-6 ACC) was then forced to foul Maryland's sharpshooter guard, Terrell Stoglin (21.7 points per game), who made both free throws.

Maryland (14-9, 4-5) has a closer.

Clemson does not.

The Tigers are now 2-14 in games decided by five points or less under Brownell and 1-8 this season.

"Deja vu is what comes to mind," Brownell said. "It's a very disheartening loss. This one hurts more because it was at home. We didn't make shots. At the end of the day, we have to make shots. We have to score the basketball."

Clemson found itself in another double-digit deficit as it went 0 of 7 from 3-point range in the first half and shot 28.9 percent. When Young is inefficient, Clemson has struggled to win games, and Young made just 3 of 8 field-goal attempts.

Stoglin scored 27 points on just 11 shots.

"(Stoglin) had a great night," Brownell said. "He gets 27 a lot, but he can't do it on 11 shots. It has to be on 17 or 18 shots."

To get back in the game, Clemson made a furious rally fueled by a turnover-generating 1-3-1 zone defense and three 3-point field goals from Milton Jennings, who returned from a two-game suspension Tuesday to score 11 points.

Jennings' late shooting gave Young a chance to tie the game.

"I felt comfortable," said Young, who scored a team-best 14. "I thought was going to make all three."

Brownell says it is closing a game, the player who can get to a spot and finish his own shot in key situations, that separates good players from great players.

The lack of such a player is one reason why Clemson has lost three straight games, all by four points or less.

Brownell's next challenge is to not just find a closer, but to keep his team's confidence.

"My message after the game was, 'fellas we are not giving up on you,' " Brownell said. 'You can't give up on this season.' "

The Tigers are at Wake Forest next on Saturday.