UMd. vs. Duke: Riot...Er, Game Watch 2011

Welcome to Patch's live coverage of the UMd. vs. Duke men's basketball game. We're your hosts, Lauren Evans and Ronnie Cummings. 

8:45  p.m.- Lauren: I'd like to point out that I'm not new to riot monitoring. I was present - albeit 7 years old - for the Los Angeles riots in '92. My young age didn't keep me from stealing a T.V., though. 

8:47 p.m. - Ronnie: My riot resume cannot match Lauren's, so I am here as her pupil.  I'll also be handling most of the blogging while she tweets.  Check them out at @CollegePrkPatch.

8:48 p.m. - Lauren: I'm kidding about the TV, though not about the riots. They canceled school. It was the closest thing to a snow day I've ever had. 

8:56 p.m. - Ronnie: College Park authorities have tried to channel the energy of Maryland fans with a bonfire.  Fire is a riot staple, so this is an interesting idea.  Fans get to see something burn - safely.  Everyone goes home happy.  

8:58 p.m. - Ronnie: A number of other news outlets are here.  Check out the video.

9:03 p.m. - Lauren:  I need to clarify that I realize this game is in a whole different ballpark - weird pun not intended - than last year. I understand that not as much rests on a Terps win this time around, and that riots are unlikely. My comments are in good fun, darnit. 

9:05 p.m. - Lauren: Now let's watch some basketball. 

9:07 p.m. - Ronnie: Cheers erupt for Maryland Coach Gary Williams and boos rain forth upon a hapless Duke player.  The atmosphere here at Ledo is not as wild as Cornerstone, but that doesn't mean there's no passion.

9:08 p.m. - Lauren: Game has tipped off. Calls for riot from the otherwise orderly Ledo crowd. NOT FUNNY. 

9:13 p.m. - Ronnie: Emotions are high on the court, too.  A small pushing match ensues at the free-throw line.  Also, I just uploaded a video of the scene of Knox Road and Baltimore Ave.

9:15 p.m. - Ronnie: First commercial break seems like a good time to note that I'm from Arkansas, whose Razorbacks beat Duke for the 1994 NCAA championship, so I'm with you, Terps.  

9:19 p.m. - Lauren: Someone from Twitter accused me of being a Duke grad, since I was using the Duke hashtag (#Duke). Make no mistake, I did not go to Duke. My school is in the Pac 10. Go Bruins? 

9:23 p.m. - Ronnie: Maryland takes the lead! The Terps currently posses a .444 shooting percentage, edging out Duke's .417.

9:25 p.m. - Lauren: I'm heading into the wilds of Cornerstone, and will tweet from there. Check it out. 

9:30 p.m. - Ronnie: Maryland is staying in it despite what's becoming a cold shooting night thanks to their success at the free-throw line, where they are a perfect six for six.

9:32 p.m. - Ronnie: Maryland is gong to need more out of Freshman point guard Terrell Stoglin if they want to win - which they do.

9:35 p.m. - Lauren: The line outside Cornerstone has taken on Biblical proportions, at least for Cornerstone on a Wednesday. It's wrapping down Knox Road. 

9:40 p.m. - Ronnie: Maryland fan have been asked not to use one of their favorite, if crass and uncreative, cheers this game.  If you're not familiar with it, it involves the use of a four-letter word that is not "Duke."  

9:43 p.m. - Lauren: Twitter reports that Wizard's star John Wall has entered the Comcast Center. Maybe he can lift the Terps' spirits. 

9:55 p.m. - Ronnie: I may have jinxed Maryland in my earlier post about their shooting percentage.  It's now dropped to .348 and is the main reason they're trailing by 12 with 90 seconds left until the half.  People are visibly and audibly frustrated.  One fan claims his "riot-meter" is at 8. In what units do you measure that?

9:58 p.m. - Lauren: It's halftime! Terps are only down by 9 now, thanks to a splendid layup by Cliff Tucker. 

10:11 p.m. - Lauren: Correction - Terps are down by 7 as of halftime. Correction courtesy of College Park City Councilman Marcus Afzali (Dist. 4).

10:18 p.m. - Ronnie: The second-half has begun!  During half-time, I snuck outside and saw officers waiting at Baltimore Ave. and Knox Road, fully equipped with Kevlar vests... just in case.

10:20 p.m. - Lauren: I fear our coverage has crossed the line into "exhaustive." We'll tone it down until something big happens, we promise. 

10:31 p.m. - Ronnie: Maryland fans are given something to cheer about after Dino Gregory slams it home.  Terps are still down by 12, but there are bright spots.

10:40 p.m. - Ronnie: Maryland is making a comeback attempt.  They're on a 9-2 run.  A Duke player draws an offensive foul on Maryland and calls for "riot!" are heard.

10:58 p.m. - Lauren: Fans are starting to lose hope here at Ledo. People are putting their jackets on. The death knell will be when they zip them. 

11:07 p.m. - Lauren: Maryland didn't play well tonight, and fans will likely be too deflated to riot. Nevertheless, head to Chapel Field at UMd. for a somber bonfire.