Wolfpack coach Herb Sendek couldn't do it. The Wolfpack players couldn't do it.

Certainly, John Gilchrist was a big reason. The sophomore guard scored a career-high 30 points and was unstoppable in the second half, hitting all nine of his shots, including four high-arcing 3-pointers that left the Greensboro Coliseum crowd gasping.

Senior center Jamar Smith added 23 points as the sixth-seeded Terrapins (18-11) staged the biggest comeback from a halftime deficit in ACC Tournament history to move into today's finals against Duke.

Maryland, which scored 59 second-half points, last played for the ACC championship in 2000, losing to the Blue Devils 81-68. The Terps' last title was in 1984, when the late Len Bias was the tournament MVP.

Certainly, Maryland's fullcourt press was a big factor on Saturday. The Pack (20-9), after shooting 62.5 percent in first half and running its offense with poise and precision, suddenly turned shaky and unsure of itself.

Then there was the technical foul -- one of the most unusual in ACC Tournament history. With State leading 53-43 with 14:56 to play, the Pack was called for a delay-of-game technical just after a television timeout.

Maryland turned it into a four-point possession, with Chris McCray hitting two technical foul shots and Gilchrist then scoring on a reverse. In a game decided by three points, it became a critical call.

"It shocked me," State's Marcus Melvin said. "The technical gave [Maryland] another burst of energy and they used all of it to their advantage."

Maryland scored 10 straight points to tie the score as the Pack missed three shots.

The technical was called by lead official Larry Rose. Sendek said he was told a Wolfpack manager was wiping water off the court in front of the State bench as the Terps were about to inbound the ball.

The official explanation from the refereeing crew was "unauthorized personnel from the N.C. State bench coming onto the floor during a live-ball situation." Sendek said the bench had been warned earlier in the game.

Sendek refused further comment on the call. The Wolfpack players seemed too dejected to talk about it.

"Guys want to go down in history for winning the ACC Tournament championship, not for being up 20 and losing," said State's Julius Hodge, who tied his career high with 31 points.

The Pack led Duke by 15 points in the second half of the ACC title game last year, only to lose 84-77. But that was Duke. To the Wolfpack, this may have stung even more, even if starting guard Scooter Sherrill was sidelined with an injured ankle and center Jordan Collins with a sprained knee.

"Maryland has some good players but they're not that good," Hodge said.

The Pack was up 45-24 in the final minute of the first half before McCray scored after a State turnover. Maryland then opened the second half with a 15-5 run that began on a three-point play by Gilchrist.

"Then they turned up the heat with the press, and that was the story of the game," Melvin said.

Gilchrist frustrated a string of State defenders, including Hodge.

"Gilchrist is a good player, don't get me wrong, but he's not that good," Hodge said. "But let him get going, let him get that confidence and he'll be making every shot he throws up."

Asked about State's problems with the press, Hodge said: "If you've got a scholarship to play in the ACC, play like you deserve it. You can't be scared. We were making plays uncharacteristic of the way we've played much of the year.

"I give [Maryland] credit for playing hard. The thought never crossed my mind we would lose this game, but they got the confidence, started hitting every shot and got every call because they were the aggressors."

A 3-pointer by Gilchrist with 7:32 left pushed the Terps ahead for good, 66-65. The Pack trailed just 81-79 with 29 seconds left, but four straight free throws by the Terps' Nik Caner-Medley sealed the victory.

Maryland coach Gary Williams said much of the halftime break was used talking about pride, talking about the school's basketball tradition. The Terps responded with a second-half comeback that easily bettered Wake Forest's 12-point rally to beat Clemson in the 1987 tournament.

"When it's do-or-die time, it's going to show the heart and character of our team," Gilchrist said.

For the Terps, that time was the second half on Saturday. And they're still playing in the ACC Tournament.