Maryland came to the Cancun Challenge looking to play looser than it had last week in come-from-behind wins against Georgetown and Rider at Xfinity Center.
The Terps hoped to show their skeptics that they were one of the best teams in the country.
After moving up to No. 2 behind Kentucky on Monday, the Terps nearly went down again. But as they had against the Hoyas and Broncs, Maryland saved its best for the last six minutes against an inspired bunch of Redbirds from Illinois State.
Trailing by five points and hearing the Redbirds fans drowning out their own on the Hard Rock Resort court, the Terps stormed back behind guards Rasheed Sulaimon and Melo Trimble to beat Illinois State, 77-66.