Maryland men’s basketball gets 76-75 comeback win over Villanova

Photo courtesy of Allison Mize/Maryland Terrapins

On November 17, 2023, Maryland men’s basketball left Philadelphia absolutely defeated. Not only did they lose to the then No. 21 Villanova Wildcats, they scored just 40 points. 

Flash forward to just over a year later, the Terps got their revenge. They defeated Villanova (3-4) at the Saatva Empire Classic in Newark, New Jersey, 76-75 on Sunday.

It was a slow start for the Terps (5-1), shooting 11-for-27 from the field in the first half, including just two for 10 from beyond the arc. They also turned the ball over 11 times during that time. Villanova led 40-28 after the first 20 minutes, led by forward Eric Dixon’s 22 points.

However, the tide completely shifted in the second frame. The Terps got off to a hot start, eventually finding their rhythm from long range. Rodney Rice hit three consecutive three-pointers to bridge the gap, while the defense stepped up and cleaned the glass, bringing the Terps within two. 

From that point on, it was the Derik Queen show. The freshman gave the Terps their first lead since the game’s first three minutes off a beautiful fadeaway shot that beat the shot clock. Queen finished as the Terps’ leading scorer with 22 points, also notching 11 rebounds to give him his second double-double of the season. Julian Reese also recorded his second double-double in as many games, recording 18 points and 10 rebounds. 

The Wildcats wouldn’t go away quietly though, as the two teams swapped leads for the final seven minutes. Dixon would score their final 11 points, finishing the day with 38, a career-high and tied for the fifth-highest for any individual in college basketball this season. 

With just 19 seconds remaining, Queen hit two clutch free throws. With no timeouts left, the Wildcats attempted to bleed the clock and hit a game-winner. But the Terps’ defense held strong, as Dixon’s final attempt fell short. 

The Terps will board the buses back to College Park happier than just a year ago. Upon arrival, they’ll get ready to defend home court against Bucknell on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.