By Deja Jones

Maryland men’s basketball defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes 77-70 on Feb. 11 in a thrilling home matchup, which snapped the Hawkeyes’ six-game win streak.

The games’ leading scorers were redshirt freshman Andre Mills and graduate student David “Diggy” Coit. Mills scored 24 points while Coit added 19 coming off the bench. Additionally, Mills scored 10 straight points in the last eight minutes, which propelled the Terps ahead 57-56. 

Senior Elijah Saunders, freshman Darius Adams and senior Solomon Washington contributed to the win as well. Saunders had 12 points and eight rebounds, Adams had 11 points and Washington had 10 points and eight rebounds. 

Maryland coach Buzz Williams made it clear that the Terps’ defensive performance was the defining factor in the win during the postgame press conference. 

“When we guard the way we’re supposed to guard, it gives us a chance,” Williams said.

 For Williams, defense is not just a strategy, but the foundation that allows everything else to work.

Players Mills, Adams and Collin Metcalf each agreed with Williams that defense is one of the key aspects of the game. 

“Defense is what won us the game. When we locked in on that end, everything else started to fall into place for us,” Mills said. 

Beyond just scoring and the box-score numbers, Williams emphasized the importance of effort plays that often go unnoticed. Loose balls, defensive rotations, rebounding and communication efforts were all areas he pointed to as critical to the outcome. 

“There’s a lot that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet but those moments often determine who wins and loses,” Williams explained. 

One of the clearest signs of growth, according to Williams, was the Terps’ composure in the final minutes. In previous games, late-game situations had been a struggle, but against Iowa, the Terps handled those moments with more control. Williams noted that the team didn’t panic, instead making the right reads and getting key stops when it mattered most. 

“We’re learning how to win those games late. We’re learning how to execute and stay together in those moments,” Adams said.  

Metcalf agreed, adding, “We were sharing the ball and making the extra pass, and that’s when our offense is at its best.”

Featured Image: Solomon Washington celebrates after Andre Mills’ dunk, sealing the win against Washington on Feb. 21, 2026. Photo by: Deja Jones.