In the closing seconds of Maryland wrestling’s dual against No. 10 Illinois, Seth Nevills walked down his ranked opponent, searching for a match-winning takedown.

Nevills’ match resembled many of the ones before him for Maryland — he found himself trailing in the final seconds of a tight contest and couldn’t prevail.

Maryland (8-6, 3-1 Big Ten) lost 33-7 to Illinois on Friday, ending its four-match winning streak and undefeated conference record. The Terps lost eight of 10 matches — three were decided by a single takedown — and gave up bonus points in four of the other five losses.

Coach Alex Clemsen said that he was disappointed in Maryland’s effort and fight. 

“At some point, you have to put your back foot in the ground, bite your lip and start throwing haymakers and figure it out,” Clemsen said. “And I just didn’t think we did enough of that tonight.”

Braxton Brown falls to top-five opponent

Braxton Brown has been dominant since losing to No. 2-ranked 133-pounder Zeth Romney in early November. Brown had won 11 straight coming into Friday’s match, beating four ranked opponents in the process.

Brown got on the board immediately against Illinois’ No. 4-ranked Lucas Byrd, shooting a single leg and diving on him when he tried to escape for a quick three. Byrd escaped, and the two spent the rest of the period in clinches, unable to penetrate the others’ defenses.

[Maryland wrestling secures best Big Ten season with 24-13 win over Wisconsin]

The redshirt junior started the second on the top, but Byrd wouldn’t be held down for long. He found a slick reversal on Brown to tie things up, then rode out the rest of the period.

Brown needed a takedown in the third to win due to Byrd’s riding time advantage, and Byrd knew it. He defended everything Brown threw at him while not allowing himself to be backed up, eventually finding a takedown of his own in the closing seconds for a 7-3 victory.

Byrd handed Brown his second loss of the season.

Ethen Miller picks up another top-25 win

Opposing 157-pounders can’t handle Ethen Miller’s physicality. Miller was 15-0 coming into the Illinois dual, with every opponent — ranked or not — eventually breaking under his pressure and attacks.

Miller overpowered Illinois’ Jason Kraisser early, driving through him with a double leg shot and bringing him to the mat. The No. 22-ranked 157-pounder had no answer for Miller’s physicality early.

When he escaped, Miller just brought him down again, picking up some nearfall points in the process for an 8-2 lead after two.

Kraisser made some adjustments in the second, but they weren’t enough to keep Miller off him. After picking up an escape from the bottom position, Kraissier was cut down to the mat again with a beautifully-timed double leg shot from Miller. He escaped before the end of the period, but Miller held a comfortable 11-4 lead heading into the third.

[Maryland wrestling tops Michigan State, 27-11, for program-best Big Ten start]

Miller needed a takedown for a major decision, and he went hunting. He lifted Kraisser up and slammed him to the mat, but the referees took away a point for a dangerous act.

The redshirt junior wasn’t deterred — he just did it again in gentler fashion, giving him a 15-6 major decision victory.

Jaxon Smith hangs on for top-10 win

No. 13 Jaxon Smith got creative in the opening period. From the clinch position late in the first, he spun No. 10 Edmond Ruth and caught him with a trip for a slick takedown and a 3-0 lead. Ruth escaped but couldn’t find any offense for the remainder of the period.

In the second, Ruth started from bottom position and escaped, but not before Smith picked up a solid amount of riding time. He went on the offensive, but Smith held firm, holding his lead to the third.

There, Smith picked up an escape to grow his lead to 4-2, and immediately went on the defensive. Ruth backed him up for the rest of the period, getting a point for stalling, but Smith stayed on his feet, stuffing every shot from Ruth to take the 4-3 decision.

“Before the match I was thinking, if I wrestle the best I can, I’m gonna get the win tonight,” Smith said. “SonI just kept positive thoughts, and came up on top.”