Paul, Maniscalco lead Illinois past Maryland

[November 30, 2011]  COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) -- Playing on the road for the first time this season, Illinois wasn't prepared for the determination and energy that Maryland displayed in its own arena.

Fortunately for the Fighting Illini, they had enough time to overcome their error in judgment.

Sam Maniscalco scored 24 points, Brandon Paul had 17 and undefeated Illinois pulled away to a 71-62 victory Tuesday night in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

The Illini (7-0) were outrebounded in the first half, shot 40 percent and returned to the locker room down 35-31.

"I'm not sure they understood or had the right mental framework of how hard it is to win a road game," coach Bruce Weber said. "They out-toughed us, got all the loose balls, outplayed us really in the first half."

By halftime, the players realized they were going to have to play much better to win.

And that is precisely what happened. Illinois outrebounded the Terrapins 22-14 in the second half and outscored them 40-27.

"I thought we showed a lot of toughness, a lot of grit," Maniscalco said.

Still, Illinois led by only one point with 8 minutes left before Maniscalco knocked down a pair of 3-pointers in a 10-2 run that proved too difficult for the feisty Terrapins to overcome.

"Second half, give Illinois credit. They took us out of everything," Maryland coach Mark Turgeon said. "At this point, we do not know how to win against a good team. But we will. We're making tremendous strides."

Terrell Stoglin scored 25 for Maryland (3-3) and James Padgett had 16. The Terrapins had two streaks end: their six-game run in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge and their 13-game home winning streak against nonconference opponents.

But Maryland, playing its first season under Turgeon, gave the Illini all they could handle before fading down the stretch.

"Illinois did a great job defending. They kind of got us out of our sets," Padgett said. "We started rushing, we weren't executing and missed a lot of free throws."

Maryland went 15 for 25 at the line, including three misses apiece by Stoglin and Padgett.

Illinois trailed 41-37 before Paul scored on a drive and Maniscalco hit a 3-pointer to give the Illini their first lead since 2-0. Nnanna Egwu followed with a layup and Tyler Griffey popped a jumper from deep in the corner to make it 47-41 and seal the 10-point run.

After the lead dwindled to 51-50, Maniscalco scored from beyond the arc with 7:45 left. The 6-foot guard popped another 3 with 5:28 remaining to make it 59-52, and although the Terrapins closed to five points in the final minute, they couldn't complete the comeback.

Maniscalco is a graduate student playing out his college career at Illinois after attending Bradley University. His presence has proven beneficial in more ways than one.

"He's unbelievable," Illinois center Meyers Leonard said of Maniscalco. "He's a great leader and making big shots. He's really kind of been the guy for us this year."

Maryland's 35-31 halftime lead might have been more if not for an 8-for-15 performance at the foul line.

"It should have been a 12-point game at halftime," Turgeon said.

Padgett scored Maryland's opening six points, and Illinois missed seven of its first eight shots while the Terrapins took an 8-2 lead. Minutes later, Sean Mosley drilled a 3-pointer to cap a 7-2 spurt that made it 20-11.

After Paul scored five points in a 9-0 run that tied it, Stoglin scored Maryland's next nine points -- including a pair of 3-pointers and a pull-up jumper in the lane -- for a 29-23 cushion. It was 30-25 before follow-shots by Padgett and Berend Weijs rebuilt the Terrapins' lead to nine.

"We didn't play that well in the first half," Maniscalco said. "We were lucky to be down only four points at halftime."

[Associated Press]

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