Maryland beats No. 17 Illinois 91-70 and sends the Illini to their 3rd loss in four games

Kevin Willard Maryland head coach Kevin Willard points to his bench during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Illinois, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Craig Pessman)
Derik Queen Maryland's Derik Queen dunks during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Illinois, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Craig Pessman)
Julian ReeseMorez Johnson Jr.Selton Miguel Maryland's Julian Reese (left) and Selton Miguel battle Illinois' Morez Johnson Jr. for the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Craig Pessman)
Selton Miguel Maryland's Selton Miguel shoots during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Illinois, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Craig Pessman)
Ja'Kobi Gillespie Kasparas Jakucionis Maryland's Ja'Kobi Gillespie, right, attempts to drive past Illinois' Kasparas Jakucionis during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Craig Pessman)
Morez Johnson Jr.Derik QueenJulian Reese Maryland's Derik Queen, center, goes up to the basket against Illinois' Morez Johnson Jr. during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Craig Pessman)
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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Julian Reese had 27 points and 17 rebounds and Derik Queen scored 25 points to lead Maryland to a 91-70 victory over No. 17 Illinois on Thursday night.

Ja’Kobi Gillespie added 15 points and Selton Miguel 14 for the Terrapins (15-5, 5-4 Big Ten), who won for the fourth time in five games, with the lone loss a buzzer-beater by Northwestern.

Kasparas Jakucionis had 21 points and seven assists and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn scored 15 points for Illinois (13-6, 5-4), which lost for the third time in four games and dropped consecutive games for the first time in two seasons. Kylan Boswell had 14 points and nine rebounds.

Illinois committed 16 turnovers that led to 27 Maryland points.

The Illini were without leading rebounder and No. 2 scorer 7-foot-1 Tomislav Ivisic, who was sidelined with strep throat.

Takeaways

Illinois: With Ivisic out and backup Morez Johnson Jr. ineffective, the Illini had no answer for Reese and Queen. Maryland outscored Illinois in the paint 62-34 and had a 40-36 edge in rebounds.

Maryland: The Terrapins won their first game on the road this season. They’re 1-5 on the road and 12-1 at home.

Key moment

Maryland led for all but 1:39 of the first half and was up by as many as 10 points. Leading by just three points at the break, Maryland outscored the Illini 53-35 in the second half.

Key stat

Illinois shot 5 for 24 on 3-pointers in a two-point loss Sunday at Michigan State and was 6 for 28 from distance against Maryland.

Up next

Illinois hosts Northwestern on Sunday. Maryland is at Indiana on Sunday.

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