Harris scores 19 and No. 17 Virginia surges to 8th straight win, beating Maryland 61-53

Maryland forward Jake Layman (10) looks to pass as Virginia guard Malcolm Brogdon (15) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Charlottesville, Va., Monday, Feb. 10, 2014. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) (The Associated Press)

Maryland guard Seth Allen (4) takes a shot over Virginia forward/center Mike Tobey (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Charlottesville, Va., Monday, Feb. 10, 2014. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) (The Associated Press)

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Joe Harris scored 19 points and No. 17 Virginia stretched its winning streak to eight games by beating Maryland 61-53 on Monday night in the Terrapins' last visit as an ACC rival.

Malcolm Brogdon added 14 points and Akil Mitchell had 13 for the Cavaliers (20-5, 11-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), who continued their best start in conference play since the 1981-82 team opened 12-1.

Seth Allen scored 15 points and Dez Wells had 12 for Maryland (14-11, 6-6), which had won three of four.

The Terps and Cavaliers were tied at 35 when Harris scored on a drive.

After a block by Maryland, Justin Anderson soared at the other end to block a shot by Maryland's Roddy Peters near the rim and saved the ball. He started a fast break that moments later was capped by Harris' 3-pointer from the right corner, arousing a crowd that had grown quiet by the tight ballgame.

A dunk by Darion Atkins and Brogdon's 17-footer pushed the lead to 44-35.

It was 52-41 with just under 5 minutes to play when the Terps staged a rally, getting seven points from Nick Faust and a basket from Wells in a 9-2 run that brought them within 54-50. But Harris hit a free throw with 1:03 to play, Maryland missed at the other end and Harris' two free throws sealed it.

The victory was Virginia's sixth straight in the series.

As the clock wound down in the final minute, Cavaliers fans stood chanting "ACC! ACC!" to mock the Terrapins' move to the Big 10 next season.

Consecutive 3-pointers by Harris gave Virginia a 33-29 lead in the opening minutes of the second half, but the Cavaliers then went nearly 4 minutes without a basket as the Terps pulled even at 35.

The Cavaliers trailed 17-13 before scoring eight straight points, the last four by Mitchell. Maryland promptly launched a 9-2 run, but Brogdon found Mitchell under the basket with an inbounds pass from halfcourt with 1.8 seconds to play in the half. Mitchell's dunk made it 26-25.

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