Cold Shooting Spell Dooms Illini
By Jeff Mayfield

[January 16, 2017]  The Illinois Fighting Illini went more than 7 minutes without scoring in the 2nd half yesterday and eventually succumbed to the Maryland Terrapins 62-56. Up until that “death valley” experience the Illini were not only hanging with the Terps, they were playing with a little bit of a cushion. Sadly, the cushion wasn’t big enough.

If you would have told me before the game that Maryland superstar Melo Trimble would only score 12 points I would have told you that I really liked our chances. But you just can’t have a 7-minute scoring draught, as that will always be a hard hole to recover from!

Maverick Morgan did lead the way for Illinois with 15 points and 5 rebounds, but Leron Black had a better overall game with 14 points and 9 rebounds. Malcolm Hill and Jalen Coleman-Lands were a combined 8 for 26 from the field and that won’t be enough on most nights to win in this league. Amazingly at home, Maryland shot twice as many free throws as the Illini did.

If the long dry spell doesn’t explain the outcome maybe this will. The Illini were outgunned in four key categories: 32-14 on points in the paint, 14-4 in points off of turnovers, 12-2 in fast break points and 21-7 in bench scoring. Those totals will have to swing in the Illini’s favor if they are to get back to their winning ways.

The loss was a bitter pill for Illinois as it drops them to 12-6 overall and 2-3 in the league with tough road games coming up at both Purdue and Michigan.

[By JEFF MAYFIELD]

Respond to the writer at [e-mail].