CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Maryland Terrapins handed the Illinois Fighting Illini their second consecutive defeat with a convincing 91-70 victory at the State Farm Center on January 25, 2024. This win marked Maryland's first Big Ten road win of the season and continued their recent dominance over Illinois, improving their record to 15-5 overall and 5-4 within the conference. On the other hand, Illinois fell to 13-6 overall and 5-4 against Big Ten opponents.
Illinois entered the match sans their key player, sophomore center Tomislav Ivisic, who was ruled out due to illness. Ivisic’s absence was felt immediately, and Maryland capitalized on the opportunity by attacking the paint aggressively. The Terrapins scored 62 of their 91 points inside, completely controlling the game’s pace and orientation.
From the tip-off, Maryland took advantage of Illinois' turnovers, starting the game with high energy and aggression. They forced Illinois to cough up the ball early, leading to fast-break opportunities. By halftime, the Terrapins held the lead 38-35, largely due to their ability to turn Illinois’ nine turnovers, which produced points off mistakes. Julian Reese and Derik Queen were pivotal, combining for 27 points and dominating the paint, where they presented serious mismatches for Illinois’ smaller lineup.
Throughout the first half, Maryland executed exceptional fast breaks, scoring 10 points off turnovers compared to Illinois' meager two-fast break points. Reese ended the game with career highs of 27 points and 17 rebounds, showcasing his prowess as both a scorer and rebounder, also blocking three shots. His partner, Queen, added 25 points and efficiently shot 10-of-13 from the field. With both players performing at such high levels, it was tough for Illinois to mount any defensive resistance.
Despite the initial struggles, Illinois managed to narrow the lead shortly before halftime. Kasparas Jakucionis, who led his team with 21 points and added seven assists, showed resilience and creativity on offense. Though shot attempts were problematic for the Illini, Jakucionis stepped up to keep the score close, fostering hope among the home fans just as the buzzer approached for halftime.
With the midway point of the second half, it seemed Illinois might claw their way back. A spurt of offensive momentum allowed the Illini to score eight straight points, narrowing Maryland’s lead momentarily. Back-to-back threes from Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn provided energy; he finished with 15 points off the bench. But Maryland quickly quelled any thoughts of a collapse. The Terps resumed their attack inside and maintained their lead late, showcasing depth and skill.
Head coach Kevin Willard praised his team’s proactive approach, stating, "Their defense forces you to take pull-up jumpers. I said we're going to run a lot of empty side pick and rolls. We're going to hit our big guys. And you guys aren't going to shoot jumpers. You guys are going to just go at these young, big kids." This strategy paid off heavily, and it showed as Maryland ended the game with just seven turnovers, contrasting sharply with Illinois’ 16 turnovers.
The performance by the Maryland players painted a clear picture of dominance. With his stellar play, Ja’Kobi Gillespie contributed significantly, achieving 15 points and eight assists, helping to communicate and lead the offensive unit effectively. He played solid defense against Jakucionis, showcasing the Terps' ability to defend tightly and push their transition game.
Illinois struggled to find consistency on offense, shooting only 21.4% from three-point range, missing 11 of their attempts during the second half. Their inability to capitalize on open opportunities spelled doom as turnovers accumulated, leading to Maryland outscoring them off mistakes by more than ten points.
When the final buzzer signaled defeat for Illinois, it emphasized not just the score but the significance of their current form heading toward the middle of the season. Reporting on the aftermath, Underwood expressed concerns over his team's sharp decline, noting, "We need to tighten things up on both ends. Missing Tommy was tough, but there’s no excuse for not executing the game plan." The Illini will look to regroup as they prepare for their next game against Northwestern.
This defeat was particularly disappointing for Illinois, marking their third home loss this season and breaking their impressive streak of 58 games without back-to-back losses. The last time Illinois lost consecutively was during the 2022-23 season.
Maryland's impressive road win underlines their potential as they seek to climb the rankings and reaffirm their status within the Big Ten. With upcoming fixtures against strong opponents, including Nebraska and Indiana, the Terrapins aim to keep this winning momentum alive.