Diamondback Online - The University of Maryland's Independent Daily Student Newspaper

Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Adam Fried

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - With his team down three points and only 12 seconds remaining, Wake Forest men's basketball guard Harvey Hale chucked up a deep three-pointer.

The ball clanked, first off the iron, then off of Terrapin guard Greivis Vasquez's arm. Just as the ball appeared to be headed out of bounds - just as it appeared the Demon Deacons would get a second chance at a game-tying three - senior forward James Gist saved the ball.

Gist was quickly fouled and sent to the free-throw line, where he missed his first attempt. But the senior composed himself and sealed the 74-70 win by knocking down the second, good for his 31st point of the night, a career high.

Gist, along with the Terps, entered last night's game mired in a slump. He had scored just 43 points in the last four games, a far cry from the 16.8 points-per-game average he had accumulated through ACC play entering the game.

The senior star turned things around quickly, posting 31 points and 11 rebounds, along with three steals and two blocks, for arguably the best game of his college career.

"I kinda had to just suck it up," Gist admitted. "I just had to kinda sit back and assess myself and assess everything that I can do… It's time to step up. It's time to take care of business, and you gotta do what you gotta to do."

Gist has repeatedly acknowledged that this late in the season, every game is crucial. And with coach Gary Williams losing his voice before the game, Gist filled in with a fiery pregame speech.

"James, I think, was the leader in [matching Wake Forest's intensity]," Williams said. "He was very vocal in the locker room before the game."

With fellow senior big man Bambale Osby struggling on the court with a lingering illness, Gist shouldered much of the burden for the Terps, especially in the early going. His 18-point first half helped the Terps jump out to an early lead even as the team turned the ball over 10 times in the period.

Defensively, Gist filled holes quickly and consistently at all the right times.

"It was huge, man," Osby said. "I wasn't that big of a factor today. I didn't have a lot of energy out there. James stepped up, blocked a couple shots. My man beat me a couple times and James came and got my back… He just played extraordinary."

Gist guarded Wake Forest freshman James Johnson for much of the game. The rookie has made a mark as one of the ACC's top forwards.

Johnson finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds. But seemingly every big play from Johnson was one-upped by Gist. With just a two-point Terp lead and 1:22 remaining, Gist trapped Johnson along the baseline and immediately snagged an attempted pass.

Gist was impressed by the star freshman, but his teammates knew who got the better of the match-up.

"James (Gist) is a senior, man," Osby said. "He's been in the ACC for a long time. Johnson is just getting here - he's got a lot to learn."

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