Maryland tight end Dorian Fleming, center, has the ball knocked away for an incomplete pass by Michigan State safety Malik Spencer, left, and linebacker Jordan Hall during the second half on Saturday in Detroit. (AP photo)

DETROIT — Alessio Milivojevic tossed a career-high four touchdown passes and Alante Brown had a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown Saturday night to help Michigan State to a 38-28 victory over Maryland and snap the Spartans’ eight-game losing streak.

Milivojevic completed 27 of 39 passes for 292 yards for the Spartans (4-8 overall, 1-8 Big Ten).

“I’ve said it for weeks now, we were gonna fight every single game, every single week, to get a win,” Milivojevic said. “And, you know, we we fought a lot today, and we got that win.”

Embattled Jonathan Smith avoided becoming the first Michigan State coach to go winless in conference play for the first time since Duffy Daugherty’s 1958 team which went 0-5-1.

The Terrapins (4-8, 1-8) closed the season with its first eight-game losing since the 2015 season. Maryland freshman Malik Washington completed 38 of 61 passes for a career-high 459 yards, Jalil Farooq had 10 catches for 110 yards and Shaleak Knotts added 8 receptions for 139 yards.

After Michigan State built a 24-7 halftime lead, Maryland pulled within 24-21 on DeJuan Williams’ 5-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-all.

The Spartans sealed the win with Milivojevic’s 10-yard scoring pass to Omai Kelly on fourth down with 1:56 remaining.

Michigan State scored the first 17 points of the game. Milivojevic threw two touchdown passes – a 1-yarder to Kai Rios and 13-yard toss to Nick Marsh – and Martin Connington nailed a 25-yard field goal.

After Washington connected with Farooq on a 7-yard scoring pass, Milivojevic hit Jack Velling for a 9-yard touchdown just seconds before halftime.