COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - Three days after one of their best games of the season, the Gopher men's basketball team suffered another downer.
And it could not have come at a worse time.
The Gophers fell at No. 24 Maryland on Friday night 69-60, keeping their NCAA hopes up in the air with the Big Ten tournament looming.
They'll open in Chicago on Thursday against an opponent still undetermined, putting their destiny in their hands.
At least that's the hope for a Gopher team that's now 19-12, with a 9-11 Big Ten record.
Anthony Cowan Jr. scored 21 points and Jalen Smith had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Terrapins. They were coming off a lopsided loss at Penn State and their lone Big Ten defeat at home, versus Michigan.
There was no sign of nervousness against Minnesota. The Terrapins (22-9, 13-7) led by 12 at halftime, stretched the margin to 19 in the opening three minutes of the second half and went up 54-32 with 13 minutes left.
Amir Coffey had 23 points and six assists for Minnesota (19-12, 9-11). The Golden Gophers' only lead was 2-0.
Minnesota shot 27 percent before halftime, 38 percent overall and committed 13 turnovers.
"We talked about when you go on the road, you've got to take good shots and you can't turn the ball over," coach Richard Pitino said. "We didn't do both of those in the first half."
Bruno Fernando had 11 points and 11 rebounds for Maryland and Smith, a lanky 6-foot-10 freshman, just missed matching his career high of 21 points - set against Minnesota in 82-67 victory Jan 8.
Minnesota had more turnovers (8) than baskets (7) in the first half and was 2 for 14 from inside the arc.
"Lost to a very good team," said Pitino. "Regroup, get excited about Chicago."
BIG PICTURE
Minnesota: The Golden Gophers are a different team on the road, a problem that is not unique in the Big Ten. Minnesota finished 13-3 at home and 2-9 on the road, including 2-8 in the conference.
Maryland: The Terrapins desperately needed a blowout victory to erase the sting of the two games that preceded it. Turgeon can only hope this serves as a confidence boost heading into the Big Ten Tournament.
COLD COFFEY
Coffey scored a combined 63 points in Minnesota's previous two games, helping the Golden Gophers beat Northwestern and Purdue. In this one, however, he went 8 for 17 from the floor and struggled before scoring 17 over the final 9:34.
UP NEXT
Both teams open play Thursday in the Big Ten Tournament at the United Center in Chicago.