It took 11 games and 35 days for No. 4 Maryland men's basketball to lose. The Terps had been dodging that gut-wrenching moment for weeks, reaching 10-0 and ascending to the top of the rankings. When that moment finally came Dec. 10 at Penn State, though, it came in full force, with a lackluster 40 minutes spurring a court storming at the buzzer. The Terps lost, 76-69.
The Terps entered this game as one of eight remaining unbeatens in Division I, needing a win to equal the best start in program history. But Maryland was never in control on this night. Penn State jumped ahead, 20-10, and led almost the entire night. Every time the Terps made a run in the second half -- they got within two, or three, or four, but never closer -- the Nittany Lions responded.
Maryland turned the ball over 20 times. It shot 33.3 percent from the floor, making just three of its final 18 attempts. It gave up 36 points in the paint. Simply put, that's a losing formula against a Penn State team that's now 8-2 (1-1 Big Ten) and 23rd in KenPom. Without a 48-33 rebounding advantage or a 23-of-28 mark from the foul line, Maryland would've gotten blown out.
