Down five points with three minutes remaining in the game, Maryland men’s basketball needed a perfect performance to dethrone No. 8 Purdue on the road.

But the Terps couldn’t muster the effort to complete the comeback. While Maryland added on 11 points for the rest of the contest, the Boilermakers matched that point total down the stretch to put the game away.

In a game that was high-energy throughout, the Terps faltered in the final minutes and failed to grab their first signature win of the season, falling 83-78.

The first four minutes of play showcased a tightly contested game, with both teams trading blows to reach a 7-7 tie. The Terps leaned on Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Derik Queen, who hit a difficult 18-foot jump shot off a jab step with pressure in his face.

Meanwhile, Purdue’s Braden Smith made an immediate impact, displaying his pace and sharp passing. His biggest highlight was a mid-air dish that set up an and-1 opportunity, energizing the Boilermakers.

Smith finished the match with a team-high 24 points and 10 assists.

Purdue faced an early setback when Trey Kaufman-Renn picked up two quick fouls, forcing the 6-foot-9 forward to the bench. But the Terps couldn’t capitalize on the size advantage inside — Queen was called for a travel on a spin move and Julian Reese missed a floater near the rim.

Purdue seized the momentum shortly after, increasing both their energy and efficiency. The Boilermakers unleashed a 7-0 run in less than a minute, sinking three straight buckets and putting the Terps on their heels.

The Terps quickly responded with back-to-back 3-pointers from Gillespie and Rodney Rice. For Rice, it was a confidence-boosting shot, as he had been just 3-of-16 from deep on the season. By the 10-minute mark, the game remained deadlocked at 18.

The next five minutes saw a high-energy, fast-paced exchange. Rice drained another three, and Queen added a gritty offensive rebound and putback. While Purdue matched Maryland’s offensive output, the interior presence of Queen and Reese disrupted the Boilermakers’ production in the paint.

As the clock approached the four-minute mark, Purdue entered a slump, hitting just 1-of-8 from the field and going scoreless for over two-and-a-half minutes. The Terps capitalized, creating some breathing room for the first time all afternoon. Selton Miguel spearheaded the effort with a personal 5-0 run, hitting a clutch 3-pointer and converting a fast-break layup.

Maryland carried a 36-31 lead into halftime, despite shooting just 37% from the field and 5-of-14 from beyond the arc.

Purdue came out firing in the second half, quickly erasing Maryland’s halftime lead. In the first four-and-a-half minutes, the Terps managed just six points, while the Boilermakers poured in 15, fueled by stellar 4-of-7 3-point shooting. Smith led the charge, going a perfect 2-of-2 from deep.

As had been the case all afternoon, the game soon tightened up, with the teams trading baskets and exchanging the lead. While Gillespie had primarily handled the ball in the first half, the second half saw Queen take over much of the playmaking from inside the free-throw circle.

Both teams’ offenses found a rhythm. Nine minutes into the half, both were shooting more than 50% from the field and from 3-point range. Queen even joined the 3-point barrage, hitting his first two triples of the season on back-to-back possessions.

His newfound range stretched Purdue’s defense, creating open opportunities for teammates. One play saw Queen draw multiple defenders and dish to DeShawn Harris-Smith for an easy layup, extending Maryland’s lead to five points with 8:25 remaining.

But in a game this tight, no lead lasted long. Maryland’s momentum was halted by a near-four-minute scoring drought, during which Purdue unleashed a 10-0 run to take control.

The Boilermakers held onto their lead, denying the Terps their first win over a ranked opponent this season.

Three things to know

1. Derik Queen’s dominance continues. The true freshman was unstoppable on the glass Sunday, nearly notching a first-half double-double with eight points and nine boards. He was also a menace defensively with two blocks and a steal, and even dove on the floor for loose balls. He finished with a career-high 26 points to go with 12 rebounds.

2. Back-and-forth action. This contest was marked by 13 ties and 15 lead changes. Maryland led for 17:01 while Purdue led for 16:34 in this hotly-contested affair. Kaufmann-Renn helped to pull Purdue away in the second half, going 7-of-10 from the field in the frame. He finished with 21 points and eight rebounds.

3. Reese fouled out. Reese was called for his fifth foul with just under seven minutes remaining, leaving him on the bench for the remainder of the contest. In his place, Harris-Smith finished the game. Reese scored just five points.