When the buzzer sounded, moments after halfcourt heave by Belmont star Dylan Windler fell well short of the basket, Maryland men’s basketball coach Mark Turgeon raised both arms in victory — celebration, but also relief.
Somehow, on a day when Windler did his best imitation of Larry Bird or Gordon Hayward with 35 points, the Terps survived, beating the 11th-seeded Bruins, 79-77, on Thursday at Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena.
Led by freshman forward Jalen Smith, who finished 19 points and 12 rebounds, sixth-seeded Maryland (23-10) won a postseason game for the first time since the 2015-16 season, breaking a string of five straight losses.