NEWARK, N.J. — With promises of improvement from last season, Maryland men’s basketball had a perfect opportunity to display just how far it has come.

After getting blown out by Villanova last season, the Terps were met with a similar proposition Saturday down by 12 points at halftime. But on the back of an incredible 22-point, 11-rebound performance by Derik Queen, Maryland prevailed to take down Villanova, 76-75, in a thrilling, down-to-the-wire finish in the Saatva Empire Classic at Prudential Center.

“I just challenge them to play the way that we practice, which is much more physical, much more aggressive,” head coach Kevin Willard said. “When [Queen] and [Julian Reese] want to impose their will on people, they can do whatever they want. It’s just not letting the game go, kind of getting into it right away.”

Queen won the event’s MVP and led Maryland to victory in its first away game of the season. Maryland is now 12-23 away from Xfinity Center under head coach Kevin Willard.

After putting forth its worst half of basketball this season, the Terps entered the second half with increased energy, cleaner play and a new strategy: stop Eric Dixon.

And for most of the final frame, it worked. Maryland’s guards often shadowed Dixon, who finished the game with 38 points, when he was in the paint, swiping at the ball and forcing turnovers when they could. But when it counted, Dixon delivered.

Down 74-73, Dixon bodied Rodney Rice into the paint and finished over the smaller guard to give his team the lead. But with 28 seconds still on the clock, Maryland turned to its best player, as Queen drew a foul and nailed both free throws to retake the lead for good.

The Terps utilized Queen as both a scorer and facilitator more in the second half. To start the half, Queen regularly received the ball at the elbow with three options: shoot, drive or pass to Julian Reese.

Given Villanova’s reluctance to switch on screens and the gravity Ja’Kobi Gillespie demanded as a shooter, Reese often faded into the dunker’s spot wide open. Queen found Reese for easy flushes multiple times in the half, as he recorded five assists and Reese tallied 18 points.

“I thought it was going to be a little hard spacing for both of them,” Willard said, “but they’re both such good passers. They have a really good feel for where the other guy is, both unselfish.”

But as the end of the game and score drew closer, Queen demanded the ball to challenge any Wildcat one-on-one, and he often won. Queen scored Maryland’s final four points and finished the game with 22 total.

The first half was a different story, though, defined by domination from Dixon and countless miscues from the Terps.

Dixon instantly showed off his shot-creation ability. On the games first possession, Dixon sized up Queen, jab stepped and shot the ball right over his head for the game’s first points.

Dixon, a sixth-year graduate student, provided a challenge the former five-star freshman has yet to see in his collegiate career. He consistently knocked down open 3-pointers, nailed tough mid-range shots and drove to the paint. Dixon finished the first half with 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field and 4-of-6 shooting from deep, with Queen primarily in coverage.

Queen displayed his youth on the offensive end as well, looking like a true freshman for perhaps the first time this season. He finished the first half with four points and four of the Terps’ 11 turnovers.

Queen’s early struggles were summarized by one sequence in the final minute of the first half. After airballing his lone 3-pointer of the period, Dixon took Queen into the paint, pump faked and then maneuvered around Queen to scoop the ball in.

“Coach was getting on me [at halftime]” Queen said on what changed for him in the second half. “[It was] just understanding how they were playing me, slowing down and trying to make the right decision every time.”

With Dixon as its primary asset, Villanova shot 40% from three compared to the Terps’ 20% clip. Maryland failed to hit multiple open 3-pointers in the first half, and paired that with frequent errant passes and poor decisions. But in the second half, Villanova shot 21.4% from three, while Maryland shot 44.4% from three.

Maryland’s 40-28 first-half deficit was not all on Queen, though. Gillespie shot just 1-of-4 from the floor with three turnovers, while Selton Miguel was held scoreless and missed two open 3-pointers.

With no answer for Dixon and without the Xfinity Center crowd behind them for the first time this season, the Terps faced a steep hole with 20 minutes on the clock.

But in a tale of two halves, Maryland displayed poise in the game’s deciding minutes to secure its biggest win of the year.

Three things to know

1. Maryland’s first high-major win. All four of Maryland’s wins prior to Saturday were in buy games against lower-level opponents. Following a tight 78-74 loss to No. 15 Marquette more than a week ago, the Terps yet again proved themselves against a high-major opponent, coming away with a win this time.

2. Geronimo was sidelined again. For the second consecutive game, backup forward Jordan Geronimo did not play due to an injury. Willard said Geronimo suffered a “slight bruise” in practice Monday and was healthy enough to play on Tuesday, but the senior’s services were not needed in a 71-point win over Canisius. But his status changed Sunday.

3. Willard’s return to Prudential Center. Prior to leading the Terps, Willard spent 12 years coaching Seton Hall at Prudential Center. His return to the stadium was a thrilling one, as Maryland narrowly escaped the Wildcats.