DETROIT — Alessio Milivojevic tossed a career-high four touchdown passes and Alante Brown had a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to help Michigan State to a 38-28 victory over Maryland.
The Terrapins (4-8, 1-8 Big Ten) ended their season on an eight-game losing streak, and the victory for the Spartans (4-8, 1-8) snapped an eight-game skid.
Milivojevic completed 27 of 39 passes for 292 yards for the Spartans. Embattled Jonathan Smith avoided becoming the first Michigan State coach to go winless in conference play since Duffy Daugherty’s 1958 team went 0-5-1.
The Terrapins’ losing streak is their longest since the 2015 season. Maryland freshman quarterback Malik Washington completed 38 of 61 passes for a career-high 459 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Jalil Farooq had 10 catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns, and Shaleak Knotts added eight receptions for 139 yards and a score.
After Michigan State built a 24-7 halftime lead, Maryland pulled within 24-21 on DeJuan Williams’s five-yard touchdown run and Washington’s 25-yard scoring pass to Knotts. Following Brown’s 92-yard kickoff return, Washington again cut the margin to three with his 24-yard touchdown pass to Farooq.
Sean O’Haire missed a 27-yard field goal with 7:38 left in the game that would have tied it at 31.
After Jamare Glasker intercepted Milivojevic on the ensuing possession to set Maryland up near midfield, the Terrapins turned the ball over on downs after Washington took a sack on fourth and 10 from the Maryland 48.
The Spartans sealed the win with Milivojevic’s 10-yard scoring pass to Omari Kelly on fourth and seven with 1:56 remaining.
Michigan State scored the first 17 points of the game. Milivojevic threw two touchdown passes — a one-yarder to Kai Rios and a 15-yard toss to Nick Marsh — and Martin Connington nailed a 25-yard field goal.
After Washington connected with Farooq on a seven-yard scoring pass, Milivojevic hit Jack Velling for a nine-yard touchdown just seconds before halftime.
— Associated Press
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