Before Sunday's practice everything seemed to be going all right for the men's basketball team. They were playing at home in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament and everyone was healthy.

And then it happened.

Halfway through practice, starting forward James Barnes went down with a broken toe. If Coach Bruce Parkhill had any hopes of beating Maryland those hopes at that time could have become prayers.

As soon as Barnes went down the forward position fell on the shoulders of Dave Degitz and C.J. Johnson. All they did last night in the Lions' 80-78 win over Maryland was score a combined 15 points and pull down 11 rebounds.

Degitz didn't know he was going to start until right before the game.

"They had up on the board that I was matched up with (Jerrod) Mustaf to begin with," Degitz said. "That was first I heard of it. I guess I just took it as it came pretty much."

Degitz started, but when he ran into foul trouble Johnson came in and played 27 minutes, grabbing nine rebounds on the way.

"He rose to the occasion," Parkhill said. "He had some great rebounds in the second half in particular."

Johnson, from Dale City, Va., overshadowed the play of the Terrapins' big men -- Tony Massenburg and Mustaf.

"I always thought I could play with the best," Johnson said. "I didn't really know who was on the Maryland team and where they came from. It was kind of for bragging rights and you play the hardest you can. "

Degitz made his presence known early in the game. After the Terrapins got on the board 30 seconds into the game on two Massenburg free throws, Degitz followed 18 seconds later with a tip-in off of a missed shot to put the Lions up 5-2.

After Monroe Brown went all the way for a layup, Degitz grabbed another rebound at the other end. Later, he was fouled and converted on one of two free throws. Johnson replaced Degitz and with 11:57 left in the first half he slammed one on a no-look pass from Michael Jennings on the fast break.

In the first half Johnson grabbed some key rebounds against a team that started two 6'9" players and a 6'10" player.

"I was kind of surprised myself," Johnson said. "I haven't been doing too well and I think I played good tonight."

Johnson followed a Massenburg dunk in the first half with another tip-in to tie the game at 30 with 4:16 left.

If there was any question of whether Degitz and Johnson would play well in the game, it was answered in the second half. Johnson pulled down six rebounds and scored eight points.

Degitz scored early in the second half when he received a pass from Ed Fogell down inside the paint and hit a layup. Later, with Degitz on the bench, Johnson scored on a layup after receiving a pass from Fogell. At the other end Johnson dived on the floor.

But Johnson's key play didn't come until 2:17 left in the game. After Massenburg brought the Terrapins to within one, 71-70, Johnson knocked in a five-foot hook shot.

Parkhill said Barnes will probably be out the rest of the season.

"There's not a whole lot you can do," Parkhill said. "We just told the guys, 'hey we've got other people on this team and we have to pull together.' It's really a psychological thing and I think the kids did a really great job of pulling together."