TAMPA, Fla. - Jack McClinton scored 17 points, Brian Asbury added 12 and undermanned Miami upset No. 17 Maryland 67-62 in the opening round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament Thursday.

Miami's Jack McClinton (33) drives to the basket between Maryland's Eric Hayes (5) and James Gist (15) during a first round game of the Men's Atlantic Coast Conference basketball tournament in Tampa, Fla., Thursday, March 8, 2007. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

The 12th-seeded Hurricanes nearly squandered a 15-point lead in the second half, but McClinton and Asbury combined to make five consecutive free throws in the final 34 seconds to snap the Terrapins' seven-game winning streak.

Maryland (24-7), the tournament's fifth seed, trailed 44-29 early in the second half and chipped away at the deficit with a tenacious full-court press that forced Miami into several turnovers.

The Hurricanes (12-19) worked the clock for much of the second half and seemed content to try to hold onto the lead. It nearly backfired when James Gist's one-handed slam made it a one-point game, 63-62.

But Asbury made four straight free throws down the stretch to seal the victory. He was 8-of-9 from the line and added seven rebounds.

Dwayne Collins had 12 points and 12 boards for the Hurricanes. Jimmy Graham had nine points, seven rebounds and five blocked shots. Miami finished with 19 offensive rebounds ? giving the 'Canes enough second-chance shots to build the big lead.

Mike Jones led the Terrapins with 15 points. D.J. Strawberry added 13, and Gist finished with 12. Ekene Ibekwe had eight points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots before fouling out with 2:01 remaining.