If the first three games of the men’s college basketball season were preludes to the first real test, then Maryland let a prime opportunity slip away. The Terps could not protect a four-point lead at halftime and did not have much of a solution for containing Kam Jones as No.

Maryland men’s basketball dropped its first game of the season Friday night in a 78-74 loss to No. 15 Marquette. The game came down the final seconds, but DeShawn Harris-Smith could not make two free throws to tie the game with 14 seconds remaining.

Joshua Sampson breaks down three things to look for as Maryland faces No. 15 Marquette on Nov. 15 in the Terps' first big test of the season.

Ja’Kobe Gillespie dribbles during Maryland men’s basketball’s 78-74 loss to Marquette on Nov. 15, 2024. (Lincoln Polan/The Diamondback) After Marquette’s David Joplin airballed a corner 3 and Stevie Mitchell got an easy putback layup, all hope seemed lost for Maryland men’s basketball.

Maryland men’s basketball’s Friday night thriller against No. 15 Marquette came down to the wire. After star guard Kam Jones missed both free throws already up two points, Terps’ guard DeShawn Harris-Smith had a chance to tie the game at the line after being fouled on a layup attempt.