Tony Gardner checks with the referee to see if he has scored any points after taking down an opponent during Maryland’s 17-16 loss against George Mason University at the Xfinity Center on Nov. 9, 2014.

Entering its match with No. 22 Rutgers on Sunday afternoon, the Terrapins wrestling team hoped to earn its first Big Ten win. In their first three duals, the Terps struggled to hang with some of the nation’s premier squads as they were outscored 108-18.

And though the Terps heavyweights impressed, their search for a conference win continues. The Terps dropped seven of 10 bouts on their way to a 24-11 loss at the Xfinity Center.

Wrestlers in the lighter weight classes have provided consistency throughout the season, but they struggled against Rutgers. Despite featuring ranked wrestlers Geoffrey Alexander and Shyheim Brown at 133 and 141 pounds, respectively, in their starting lineup, the Terps dropped the first four bouts, putting them in an early 14-0 hole.

The lone bright spot for the Terps in the first part of the dual came from 157-pound Lou Mascola, whose win by technical fall put his team on the scoreboard and gave the Terps some momentum entering intermission.

But much like at the beginning of the match, the Terps slumped out of the break.

While 165-pound Tyler Manion and 174-pound Josh Snook were both engrossed in tight bouts, neither wrestler came out with a victory.

After starting the season with three wins at the Terrapin Duals on Nov. 2, Manion is winless in his past 10 matches. Snook, meanwhile, has lost four straight matches since placing fourth at the Midlands Championships.

Furthermore, Rutgers (10-4, 1-4) clinched the dual over the Terps (5-10, 0-4) after 184-pound Tony Gardner’s 11-2 loss.

Still, the Terps used impressive performances from wrestlers at the heavier weight classes to finish the match strong.

At 197 pounds, Rob Fitzgerald secured a two-point decision against No. 18 Andrew Campolattano. After several tough losses top-20 opponents earlier in the year, Fitzgerald’s win marking his first over a ranked foe this season.

Spencer Myers followed Fitzgerald’s performance with a gritty outing of his own. In just his third match back since returning from the Terps football team, Myers, ranked 10th in his weight class, beat No. 13 Billy Smith with a takedown in the second overtime period.

But on this day, the Terps’ shaky start to the dual overshadowed a promising ending as the team remains winless in their new conference.