Gary Williams' 400th career victory at the university was going to have to wait.
Then guard Greivis Vasquez came to save the day.
With the Terrapin men's basketball team trailing by three points at home against Vermont on Friday night, Vasquez nailed a desperation three-pointer with six seconds remaining in regulation, sending the teams into overtime. The Terps then took control in a rousing 89-74 triumph.
Of Williams' first 400 wins at this university, this one has to rank up there as one of the most memorable.
"In any good season, there is a win like that somewhere along the line," Williams said. "When it seems like there's no chance to win, and then you win, it's a good feeling. It kind of cements the idea that if you work hard enough, good things will happen."
During the second half, it appeared that the Terps would have another slip-up against a mid-major opponent - the type of game that blemished their season last year. The Terps trailed by as many as eight points in the second half, and didn't lead for the final 13 minutes of regulation.
But a frenetic comeback led by Vasquez's miracle shot gave the Terps an undeniable verve heading into overtime, where they extended their record to 3-0 for the third straight season.
"The play was drawn to [guard] Eric [Hayes], but I kind of knew he would be overplayed, so I told [guard Adrian Bowie], 'Hit me, I'm taking the shot. So if I miss it, it's on me,'" Vasquez said. "And it just went in. It went perfect."
Vasquez, who finished with a game-high 26 points and a team-high nine rebounds, could have been remembered for much different reasons if the shot hadn't fallen.
The Terps had a chance to tie the game with a minute left, but Vasquez missed a jump shot. After another defensive stop, the Terps isolated Vasquez with 17 seconds on the clock, but he was called for an offensive foul for hooking his man on a step to the basket.
The Terps in turn fouled forward Marqus Blakely - the Catamounts' leading scorer and rebounder with 23 and 11, respectively - but Blakely failed to ice the game, hitting just one of two free throw attempts to push the lead to three. After Vermont called a timeout to set up their defense, Vasquez got the ball in the corner and let it fly.
"My heart stopped for a second," said forward Dave Neal, who also hit a crucial three-pointer as a part of the comeback. "To be honest with you, I think [Vasquez] just threw it up and didn't even look at the rim. Thank God it went in."
The Terps had to delay their celebration for six seconds, as Vermont (1-2) had a final chance to win the game, but guard Nick Vier's last-second runner clanged off the rim and sent the game into overtime.
The Terps skipped off the court in excitement as the crowd bellowed louder and louder.
"Tying the game up, all of a sudden the confidence got back into the team," Williams said. "I could tell going out that we were going to play well in overtime."
The Terps entered the extra period with the momentum of a boulder rolling down a steep hill, and they were indomitable during those five minutes, as they rattled off 17 straight points and extended the school's overtime record at Comcast Center to 6-0.
Bowie scored seven of his career-high 17 points in overtime, also earning acclaim for his gritty rebounding. With power forward Landon Milbourne fouled out, the 6-foot-2 Bowie played like a big man, collecting four offensive rebounds down the stretch.
"After I got the first offensive rebound, I figured my man was too short and too slow to guard me, so I just went after him," Bowie said.
But none of that would have been possible without the clutch basket that delineated Vasquez as a star for this Terps team.
"I said, 'They're either going to love me or they're going to hate me - who cares?'" Vasquez said with a shrug, as he explained his thought process before the key basket.
After the game, Vasquez gave the ball to his milestone-reaching coach - the one person who has always had unwavering confidence in the often-criticized guard.
At least for now, they're going to love you, Greivis.
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