<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">NEW YORK – Some expected Gary Williams to be livid following Maryland’s loss to Pittsburgh in Madison Square Garden.

That wasn’t the case at all.

Williams was disappointed – in his team’s inability to make free throws (the Terps were 0-for-7 in the first half and 2-for-14 overall in the setback) – but he was also impressed with his young team’s performance against the No. 5 team in the nation.

Maryland was down 70-66 and had the ball with less than 90 seconds left in the game, but Jamie Dixon’s team made plays – and its free throws – down the stretch to seal the win.

``We can play,” Williams said following the loss. ``But we have to be careful. We can’t let the players feel good because we didn’t win.”

Maryland’s young guards didn’t appear overwhelmed by the vets on the other side. In fact, freshmen Terrell Stoglin and Pe’Shon Howard combined to turn it over just three times. The Terps as a team committed only nine turnovers.

However, Pittsburgh bogged down on Maryland’s sophomore big man Jordan Williams – especially in the second half, helping on him much of the time.

Williams finished with a solid 14 points and eight boards, but was 2-of-7 from the charity stripe.

``We need to give Jordan more help on the offensive end,” Williams said.

Williams was also somewhat upbeat despite the loss.

``I truly believe that if they’re the number four or five team in the country, then we’re number four or five,” Williams said. ``We know we can play with anyone.”

Well, just about anyone.