The No. 3 Maryland men's basketball team was on the ropes for the entire second half of its Dec. 7 bout with Illinois. It had been outmatched all evening. Sometimes, though, it only takes one shot to change everything.
Maryland dubbed this week -- with matchups against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Illinois Fighting Illini -- "Fight Week." And the Terps won the first fight, thwarting Notre Dame 72-51. But the Illini threw haymakers for two hours. They led 39-25 at the halfway mark and 43-28 with 17:24 remaining. Maryland had never been in such a hole all season. The Terps punched back, but as the clock wound down, it looked like they had run out of time to win the decision.
Then, out of nowhere, came the knockout blow.
