No. 9 Maryland tops Big Ten after beating No. 20 Illinois

[February 08, 2020]    Maryland's defense dominated the second half against Illinois in a battle for sole possession of first place in the Big Ten, and the Terrapins prevailed 75-66 at Champaign, Ill., on Friday.

Anthony Cowan led five Terrapins in double-figure scoring with 20 points as the streaking Terrapins (19-4, 9-3 Big Ten) won their sixth consecutive game, including three in a row on the road. Darryl Morsell had 18 points and five rebounds, and Jalen Smith added his 14th double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Fighting Illini guard Alan Griffin (0) celebrates his three point shot during the second half against the Maryland Terrapins at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

Ayo Dosunmu led the Illini (16-7, 8-4) with 16 points, but Illinois lost its second straight contest after a seven-game winning streak. The Illini were swept in two games by the Terrapins this season.

Maryland's defense held the Illini without a field goal the first eight minutes of the second half, and a 13-0 run put the Terrapins ahead 53-44 at 12:22 on two Morsell free throws. A Smith dunk with 16:21 left to make it 46-44 had marked Maryland's first lead since the game's first 2 1/2 minutes.

Illinois missed 16 of its first 17 shots in the second half but stormed back within one point twice, each time on an Alan Griffin 3-pointer, the last with 8:44 remaining.

The Illini got a stop, but Morsell stole an outlet pass and canned a 3-pointer to make it 59-55 with 7:30 left, igniting a 10-1 run. Illinois connected on just 7 of 27 shots (25.9 percent) in the second half.

The Illini went on a 13-0 spree to take command early, and they led 42-40 at the half. Dosunmu's jumper broke a 7-7 tie, and when Da'monte Williams drilled his second 3-pointer during the run, Illinois led 17-7 with 15:10 to go in the half.

The Illini led by as many as 14 points, but the Terrapins ended the half on a 19-9 run, Aaron Wiggins hitting back-to-back 3s late. Cowan kept the visitors close with 13 points in the first 20 minutes.

Maryland overcame a 15-point deficit to prevail 59-58 in the Dec. 7 meeting of the two teams at College Park, Md.

--Field Level Media

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