Students brave snow, cold for Maryland-Duke seats

Testudo, the University of Maryland mascot, visits students waiting to get a seat for the Terps game against the Duke Blue Devils Saturday morning. The students have been waiting outside for days to get tickets to the game, which is likely the last as ACC rivals. (WTOP/Jamie Forzato)
Students bundle up in sleeping bags and blankets as they wait to get a seat for the Maryland-Duke basketball game Saturday. Many had been waiting for days, braving the snow and cold all so they could attend the last regular match up between the ACC rivals. (WTOP/Jamie Forzato)
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Jamie Forzato, wtop.com

COLLEGE PARK – Hundreds of University of Maryland students lined up outside the Comcast Center Saturday to get the best seats in the house, including some who camped out for days, ahead of the most anticipated game of the year.

The Terps take on the Duke Blue Devils at 6 p.m. Saturday and the basketball game is likely the last time the two teams will face off in College Park as ACC rivals.

“We hate Duke. That’s what it’s all about. It’s Maryland basketball and that’s the number one reason why we came here,” U.Md. sophomore Jason Vadhan said.

Vadhan and his friends slept on the ground and in their cars since Wednesday night to be the first in line.

“In the snow, in the rain, in the frost, we’ve stuck it out since then,” Vadhan said. “We’re running on all adrenaline. Five hours of sleep the past three nights.”

Freshmen Kate Correia and Beth Kerley say the historic last match-up is why they claimed their spot in line days ago.

“This is our only home game. So this is huge for us.”

The students bundled up in sleeping bags and blankets, taking turns holding spots in line.

“There’s 25 of us in our group so we’re rotating. We’ve been doing shifts since Thursday night, and then I got here at 6 o’clock this morning,” said Junior Taryn Lowrey.

Freshman Saman Bahdorie got in line around 8 a.m., realized he forgot his ticket, and went back to get it.

“This is the biggest game of my college life. We’re definitely going to win. I’m guaranteeing a win,” he said.

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