In an effort to claim its first Big Ten win, Maryland men’s basketball stayed competitive despite struggles throughout the first half. 

But it deteriorated in the second half. Indiana caught fire after a relatively disappointing start and completely outmatched the Terps.

Maryland will continue to look for its first conference victory because it couldn’t find it on Wednesday. Indiana cruised to victory, 84-66. 

In the absence of Pharrel Payne, Maryland continued to look for a primary scorer against Indiana. 

It was a different source on Wednesday. Elijah Saunders has struggled this season, averaging 7.8 points per game coming in, and hadn’t scored more than 14 points in a game. 

In the first half, it looked like he had taken charge and scored his season-high of 16 points. He scored 10 points in the first half. 

The Terps went on an early run and were able to build a solid lead, but couldn’t contain it midway through the first half. Maryland proceeded to go scoreless for over four minutes and not make a field goal for over six minutes, allowing Indiana to go on a 10-0 run. 

The Terps would go on a 6-0 run and limit the deficit, but struggled to score. The lack of ability to contain Indiana put them down by five at halftime. Maryland didn’t have a 3-pointer or an assist until its final possession of the first half, when Andre Mills knocked down a 3-pointer, assisted by Solomon Washington. 

To start the game, there were constant trips to the free-throw line. Both teams were strong from the charity stripe, making the first 25 combined free throws of the game.

Maryland’s defensive focus coming into the game aimed to control the Hoosiers from beyond the arc. The Terps’ defensive focus was to specifically contain Lamar Wilkerson, Tucker DeVries and Nick Doren from deep. It worked in the first half as that trio only made one of Indiana’s two 3-pointers. 

It worked in the first half, but Wilkerson caught fire in the second half, and so did Indiana. Wilkerson went 3-of-5 from deep in the second half and scored 18 of his 24 points in that frame. It was his fourth straight 20-point game. 

Wilkerson’s impact proved to make a difference as Maryland’s key transfers couldn’t.

Wednesday was the first time Myles Rice faced his former team after transferring to Maryland for this season. But for both Indiana and Maryland, it’s the first season for each of its head coaches — both teams are drastically different than last season.

Rice was the only player who played in last season’s matchup. However, he switches sides. That said, the Hoosiers were the much stronger team coming into the game as the Terps still searched for their first Big Ten victory.

The Terps’ deep struggles continued as they shot 5-of-26 (19.2%) from beyond the arc. Diggy Coit – who was once looked at as an elite 3-point shooter — cooled off from deep, shooting 1-of-6. Isaiah Watts shot 0-of-7 from deep on Wednesday. 

For the Terps, Darius Adams had a solid start to the game but fouled out with over seven minutes remaining, despite scoring 13 points. 

Every time the Terps had positive momentum, the Hoosiers fought back and answered. The Terps were in a double-digit deficit for most of the second half and fell completely flat in front of their home crowd. 

Maryland fell to under .500 for the first time this season and the disappointing start to Big Ten play continued.