The ball landed with a thud on Branch McCracken Court — a fall from grace similar to that of Indiana men’s basketball, which squandered a 4-point lead in the final 30 seconds en route to a 79-78 loss to Maryland. Indiana (14-7, 5-5 Big Ten) has lost four of its last five games. Sunday’s defeat may sting more than the others.

Indiana hosts Maryland in a key Big Ten Conference game, one that the Hoosiers need to bolster their NCAA Tournament resume.

The Hoosiers stormed back to take a late lead against Maryland, but botched the final two possessions in a disheartening loss at Assembly Hall.

The Indiana Hoosiers host the Maryland Terrapins in Big Ten play and come agonizingly close to pulling off the victory.

Maryland men’s basketball can vouch for the Midwest’s reputation for hospitality. The Terps completed a successful two-game road swing through the heartland of the nation punctuated by Rodney Rice’s 3-pointer with seven seconds left in regulation to defeat host Indiana,

Maryland men’s basketball narrowly escaped Bloomington, Indiana, with a win Sunday afternoon, taking down Indiana, 79-78. After leading for much of the game, Rodney Rice was called upon to bail the Terps out,