The Terrapins men’s basketball team rose two spots to No. 2 in the Associated Press Poll, its highest ranking since the Nov. 30 rankings, after a second win over a top-25 team.
The Terps started this season No. 3 in the AP Poll before rising to No. 2 on Nov. 23. The Terps stayed there for a week before they fell 89-81 to then-No. 9 North Carolina. They have never been ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll.
They garnered 13 first-place votes compared to 32 votes for Villanova, who takes over the top spot with a 20-3 record.
Saturday, the Terps beat No. 18 Purdue 72-61 after defeating No. 4 Iowa 74-68 on Jan. 28. The Terps are now 2-2 against ranked opponents with losses at No. 9 North Carolina and No. 8 Michigan State.
Before beating Purdue, the Terps squeaked out a 70-65 victory at Nebraska on Wednesday.
The Terps host Division II Bowie State on Tuesday before a rematch with Wisconsin on Saturday at the Xfinity Center. The Terps beat the Badgers 63-60 on Jan. 9 with a last second 3-pointer from guard Melo Trimble.
The top two teams in the AP Poll – North Carolina and Oklahoma – lost this past week, allowing the Terps to climb in the rankings.
In the USA Today Coaches Poll, the Terps are also No. 2 behind Villanova.
