Maryland men’s basketball falls apart in second half, loses to top-seeded Florida
Updated: 10:27 PM EDT Mar 27, 2025
Maryland men’s basketball hung with top-seeded Florida in the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen until halftime.From there, No. 4 seeded Maryland’s shooting stalled — just four points in the first five minutes of the second half. Meanwhile, Florida extended its lead to double figures.The team’s season, which saw the program’s first Sweet Sixteen game since 2016, ended with a loss to No. 1 Florida, 87-71.The Terps’ 2025 tournament run saw Maryland take care of business against No. 13 Grand Canyon University in the first round before a buzzer-beater from freshman guard Derik Queen lifted them over No. 12 Colorado State and into the Sweet Sixteen.Florida was another story, though, and Maryland struggled to keep up throughout the second half.Maryland was poor on the glass, getting outrebounded by the Gators, 42-20. The team’s 20 rebounds is the second-lowest mark of the season.The team also struggled to share the ball. Maryland’s six total assists — compared to 16 for the Gators — is the second-lowest mark on the season.The game seemed to be in dire straits early on, with Florida utilizing an 11-point unanswered run to get out to a 20-9 lead. Maryland showed some resilience early, though, battling back to a 40-38 halftime deficit.Maryland’s offense was the first to stall in the second half, but then the defense followed. A defensive breakdown led to a wide-open layup, and the Gators continued to move the ball at ease to find open shots.The Terps were outscored by 14 points in the second half against the Gators.The Terps kept fighting, but Florida’s high-scoring offense — which shot 50% from the floor — was too much to handle.Freshman forward Derik Queen put up 27 points while junior guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie contributed 17 points, but it wasn’t enough to match a balanced attack from Florida, which had six players score between 10 and 15 points.
SAN FRANCISCO —Maryland men’s basketball hung with top-seeded Florida in the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen until halftime.
From there, No. 4 seeded Maryland’s shooting stalled — just four points in the first five minutes of the second half. Meanwhile, Florida extended its lead to double figures.
The team’s season, which saw the program’s first Sweet Sixteen game since 2016, ended with a loss to No. 1 Florida, 87-71.
The Terps’ 2025 tournament run saw Maryland take care of business against No. 13 Grand Canyon University in the first round before a buzzer-beater from freshman guard Derik Queen lifted them over No. 12 Colorado State and into the Sweet Sixteen.
Florida was another story, though, and Maryland struggled to keep up throughout the second half.
Maryland was poor on the glass, getting outrebounded by the Gators, 42-20. The team’s 20 rebounds is the second-lowest mark of the season.
The team also struggled to share the ball. Maryland’s six total assists — compared to 16 for the Gators — is the second-lowest mark on the season.
The game seemed to be in dire straits early on, with Florida utilizing an 11-point unanswered run to get out to a 20-9 lead. Maryland showed some resilience early, though, battling back to a 40-38 halftime deficit.
Maryland’s offense was the first to stall in the second half, but then the defense followed. A defensive breakdown led to a wide-open layup, and the Gators continued to move the ball at ease to find open shots.
The Terps were outscored by 14 points in the second half against the Gators.
The Terps kept fighting, but Florida’s high-scoring offense — which shot 50% from the floor — was too much to handle.
Freshman forward Derik Queen put up 27 points while junior guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie contributed 17 points, but it wasn’t enough to match a balanced attack from Florida, which had six players score between 10 and 15 points.
