To many Maryland basketball fans, Thursday’s loss at Purdue probably felt like a recurring bad dream.
The dream started with 4:20 remaining, when Jalen Smith hit a jumper, the last field goal either team would hit in the entire game. It ended with Nojel Eastern blocking Anthony Cowan Jr.’s desperation three-pointer as time expired that was preceded by multiple frustrating possessions on the offensive end.
The Terps have ended games like this before, particularly last season. In seemingly every close game, whether it was a sloppy turnover, a costly offensive rebound or a poor final play, Maryland came up short.