EAST LANSING, MI – Maryland nearly pulled off its biggest comeback in 25 years, but the Terps dropped their regular-season finale at Michigan State on Sunday, 77-67, inside the Breslin Center.

The Terps (15-16, 7-13 Big Ten) will head to the Big Ten Tournament as the No. 10 seed and will rematch with the No. 7 seed Spartans (20-11, 11-9) on Thursday, March 10 at 6:30 p.m. 

Eric Ayala led Maryland with 19 points and six rebounds. Ayala tied his career-high for three-pointers in a game, making 5-of-12, including 5-of-8 in the second half comeback. 

Fatts Russell scored 16 points and dished out four assists. Donta Scott tallied 13 points and five rebounds. 

Down by as many as 22 points late in the first half, the Terps cut the deficit to 10 points early in the second half at 46-36, thanks to a 12-0 run bridging the halves. Michigan State regained control with a 10-0 run to go up 56-36.

Then Maryland ripped off a 19-2 run  to cut the deficit to just three points (61-58)  with 7:14 left, but Michigan State took control with the next seven points. 

Michigan State was led by Malik Hall, who had 17 points. Marcus Bingham had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. 
 
Breaking Down The Action

• Michigan State scored the first 14 points of the game and led 18-1 before Maryland made its first field goal on a Hakim Hart layup 8:59 into the game. The Spartans led 46-26 at halftime. Bingham led all scorers with 12 points. 
• Maryland opened the second half scoring the first 10 points to cut the deficit to 10 at 46-36, less than three minutes into the stanza. The Spartans answered with 10 of its own points including back-to-back three-pointers to retake a 20-point lead at 56-36 with 14 minutes left. Ayala made 5-of-6 three-pointers early in the second half to help get the Terps back within three at 61-58 with less than 7:14 left. The Terps used a 19-2 run to surge back. Michigan State answered to retake a double-figure lead for much of the remainder of the game. 

Almost Comeback

• Maryland was threatening its largest comeback since rallying from a 22-point deficit at North Carolina (1/8/97) to win in Chapel Hill. 

Double-Figure Update 

• Ayala (19 points) has scored in double-figures in 22 games this season and now has 73 in his career. 
• Russell (16 points) hit double-figures for the 26th time this season, including the last 14 games in a row, and 102nd time in his career (in 150 games).
• Scott (13 points) scored 10-plus for the 22nd time this season and 45th time in his career. 

Ayala Moves To 21st On Scoring Chart

• With 19 points in the game, Eric Ayala moved to 21st in career scoring with 1,432 at Maryland, passing James Gist (1,414). Next on the list at No. 20 is current Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jake Layman (1,436).
• Ayala also hit five three-pointers and now has 221 in his career. He's third all-time behind only Juan Dixon (239) and Greivis Vasquez (230)

Up Next 

• The Terps head to the Big Ten Tournament as the No. 10 seed where they will rematch with the seventh-seed Spartans on Thursday, March 10 at 6:30 p.m., in the opening game of that day's night session. 
• That game will air on Big Ten Network and can be heard on the Maryland Sports Radio Network.