After jumping out to a 2-0 record in the conference after defeating Boston College and Florida State, N.C. State lost its second straight conference game Saturday in College Park, Md., this time to Maryland 26-20.

The loss was the team’s first to the Terrapins in three years — a team the Wolfpack had defeated 13-3 and 20-14 the past two seasons.

In the first half, State was held scoreless but only trailed 6-0. But after opening the second half with a fumble from sophomore running back Andre Brown and an interception by redshirt sophomore quarterback Daniel Evans, Maryland led 20-0 only five minutes into the second half.

Brown’s turnover led to a 31-yard drive culminated by a 4-yard touchdown pass from Terrapins senior quarterback Sam Hollenbach to senior running back Josh Allen.

Following Evans’ interception, which was the first of two in the game for the first-year starter, Maryland junior running back Lance Ball punched the football in from two yards out.

Evans finished the day going 15-for-26 for 145 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.

But the Terrapins two scores would not finish the Pack. Brown got State on the board with a two-yard touchdown run — making it only a two-possession game. Senior kicker John Deraney would miss the extra point, the first of his career, putting the Pack down 20-6.

A Maryland field goal expanded its lead to 23-6 to end the third quarter.

But halfway into the fourth quarter, junior receiver Darrell Blackman would return a punt 65 yards for a touchdown to get the score at 23-13.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Terrapins would fumble and Deraney would fall on the ball. But the Pack was unable to capitalize on its opponent’s mistakes.

A field goal from Maryland senior kicker Dan Ennis with less than two minutes remaining would put his team up 26-13.

But State would quickly move the ball down the field and score less than a minute later. After the extra-point conversion, a touchdown and extra point could win the game.

However, with less than a minute remaining in the game, the Pack could not recover the onside kick and the Terrapins would kneel down four times to win the game.

The loss moved State to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the conference. Next up is Virginia, who is 3-5 overall and 2-2 in the ACC. Kickoff is set for noon on Saturday.