Maryland Upsets Iowa Behind Andre Mills’ Career Night and Clutch Free Throws
Back in the preseason, Buzz Williams offered a telling bit of foreshadowing. He admitted Maryland might drop a few games it shouldn’t before Christmas - but come February, he expected his team to steal a few it wasn’t supposed to win. Fast forward to Wednesday night at the Xfinity Center, and that prediction aged pretty well.
Maryland took down Iowa, 77-70, in a game that not many had circled as a potential upset. But the Terps didn’t just show up - they delivered their most complete win of the season, snapping Iowa’s six-game win streak and notching their first Quad 1 victory under Williams.
“We’re gonna count it as [after] Valentine’s Day,” Williams joked postgame. “It happened in the week of Valentine’s - I should’ve said that.”
A Win That Wasn’t Supposed to Happen - But Maryland Made It Happen
Let’s be clear: on paper, this wasn’t supposed to go Maryland’s way. Coming in at 10-14 overall and just 3-10 in Big Ten play, the Terps were up against an Iowa squad with an 18-6 record, a top-25 profile in nearly every advanced metric, and one of only nine teams in the country that ranked top-25 in both offensive and defensive efficiency per KenPom.
But Maryland didn’t flinch. For the first time since November, they’ve strung together back-to-back wins. And more importantly, this was a win that carried real weight - one that showed growth, grit, and maybe a glimpse of what this team could become.
Andre Mills: The Breakout Game
The night belonged to redshirt freshman Andre Mills, who put together the best performance of his young career. He poured in a career-high 24 points and barely left the floor - sitting for just 20 seconds. Mills was locked in from the jump, scoring 14 in the first half and setting the tone with aggressive drives and confident jumpers.
“Obviously, this is our first ranked-[caliber] win, so the feeling is amazing,” Mills said postgame.
He’s been trending upward lately - this was his fourth straight double-digit scoring game - but this one felt different. This was a player not just contributing, but taking over.
And when Iowa made its push in the second half, Mills had the answer. After the Hawkeyes briefly took the lead, Mills responded with a three-pointer, then rattled off 10 straight points to keep Maryland in front. It was a stretch that showed off his full offensive arsenal - from deep range to mid-air body control at the rim.
Elijah Saunders: Clutch When It Counted
While Mills carried the load most of the night, Elijah Saunders stepped up when the game was on the line. Maryland had struggled from the free-throw line all night, but Saunders was ice when it mattered most.
Up three with 18 seconds left, Saunders calmly knocked down two free throws. After an Iowa bucket, he went right back to the line and did it again. In total, he finished with 12 points, eight rebounds, and the kind of poise that wins games in February.
He also buried a massive three with just under three minutes to go that stretched Maryland’s lead to six - a dagger that took the air out of Iowa’s late-game surge. It was one of the most assertive games we’ve seen from Saunders this season, and it came at exactly the right time.
Young Core Showing Real Growth
If there’s a silver lining in Maryland’s up-and-down season, it’s the emergence of a young core that’s starting to figure things out. Alongside Mills, freshman Darius Adams continues to prove he’s a foundational piece. Foul trouble limited his minutes in the second half, but he still managed 11 points on an efficient 5-for-7 shooting, including some tough finishes in traffic.
“In my four years, I haven’t seen a guy get to the rim as much as [Mills and Adams] do,” senior Collin Metcalf said.
That rim pressure isn’t by accident. Williams and his staff have been working closely with both guards after practice, focusing on finishing off two feet - a subtle but critical adjustment that’s helped them absorb contact, stay balanced, and draw fouls more consistently.
“They’re miscast in some ways because of our roster situation,” Williams said. “But their work ethic has become more consistent, and our staff has done a fabulous job helping them each day.
They’re playing off two feet better than they ever have. They’re understanding penetration, getting fouled more, turning the ball over less, and helping us get predictable shots.”
Translation: the light is starting to come on.
Diggy Coit Adds a Spark, Rebounding Makes the Difference
Diggy Coit added a timely boost in the second half, hitting a three and a layup in a key stretch that pushed Maryland’s lead to six and forced an Iowa timeout. It was a momentum shift that helped the Terps keep control down the stretch.
Despite losing the turnover battle by 10 - a stat that usually spells trouble - Maryland made up for it by dominating the glass and shooting efficiently. Only five players scored from the field, but the shots they took were smart, and the execution was crisp.
What This Win Means
This wasn’t just a feel-good win - it was a signature moment in a season that’s lacked them. Maryland didn’t just hang around with a top-25-caliber team - they outplayed them when it mattered most. They were tougher down the stretch, more composed at the line, and more determined in the paint.
It’s the kind of win that doesn’t erase the struggles of the past few months, but it does offer something more valuable: belief. In the system, in the development of its young stars, and in the idea that maybe, just maybe, this team is starting to turn the corner.
Buzz Williams said February could be different. Wednesday night, Maryland proved him right.