Terps Back at XFINITY Friday vs. #17 Illinois

Maryland (9-9, 1-6) vs. #17 Illinois (13-4, 6-1)
January 18, 2021
XFINITY Center
7:00 pm EDT

COLLEGE PARK, MD - The Maryland men's basketball team returns to XFINITY Center Friday evening as it takes on Illinois at 7:00 p.m. on FS1 and the Maryland Sports Radio Network. It marks the seventh game in 19 days for the Terrapins between Jan. 3 and Jan. 21.

ILLINOIS STORYLINES

FIRST B1G WIN SECURED

Maryland picked up its first Big Ten win of the season last week, when it went on the road to defeat Northwestern in a thrilling double overtime victory, 94-87.
It was Maryland's first double overtime game since its first-ever Big Ten game on Dec. 30, 2014, when it defeated Michigan State, 68-66

Northwestern Wildcats vs Maryland Terrapins Big Ten Basketball at Welsh-Ryan Arena Wednesday, January 12, 2022 in Evanston, Illinois. Northwestern Athletics Photo by John Konstantaras | http://JohnKonPhoto.com

Ayala WATCH

All-Big Ten senior guard Eric Ayala continued his torrid scoring pace in conference play, scoring 22 points at Michigan Tuesday evening. Ayala ranks seventh in scoring in Big Ten play, averaging 17.9 points/g.
Ayala is just 12 points away from becoming the 29th player in Maryland history to record 1,300 career points. He also currently sits sevent in program history with 195 career 3-pointers made. He is looking to pass Eric Hayes (196) and Jake Layman (198) and become the fifth player in program history to record 200 3-pointers.

LAST TIME VS. ILLINOIS

This marks the second game of the season series between Maryland and Illinois, with the Illini winning the first matchup in Champaign, 76-64.
The Terps trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half of that meeting, before Kofi Cockburn hit the bench with two fouls.
That led to scoring outbursts from Donta Scott (15 first half points) and Eric Ayala (10 first half points) which propelled the Terrapins to a 27-9 run and a 4-point halftime advantage. Illinois regained the lead for the remainder of the game with 11:51 to play in the second half.

LIVING AT THE LINE

Maryland currently ranks second in the Big Ten in free throws attempts (372) and free throws made (275), and ranks 13th and 10th in the country, respectively, in each category.
The effort has been led by Fatts Russell and Eric Ayala, who both rank in the top-8 in the Big Ten in free throws attempted.

NCAA MBB: Maryland Terrapins vs. Brown Bears at XFINITY Center in College Park, MD on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021. Joe Noyes/Maryland Terrapins

GETTING THE LEAD

Maryland has led in the second half in six of its seven Big Ten Conference contests.
In fact, Maryland has led in the second half of 16 of the 18 games it has played this season (George Mason, 11/17).

Fatts Russell (4)Maryland Terrapins vs. Wisconsin Badgers at XFINITY Center in College Park, MD on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022. Zach Bland/Maryland Terrapins

SERIES HISTORY

The Terrapins are 3-0 all-time at home against Illinois as Big Ten Conference foes (since 2014-15). Maryland has won seven of its last nine meetings overall against the Illini.

Click here for this week's game notes.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Eric Ayala: G; 6' 5"; Senior

#24 Donta Scott: F; 6' 8"; Junior

#4 Fatts Russell: G; 5' 11"; Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

#5 Eric Ayala
: 6' 5"; Senior
: G

#24 Donta Scott
: 6' 8"; Junior
: F

#4 Fatts Russell
: 5' 11"; Graduate Student
: G

ILLINOIS STORYLINES

Players Mentioned

#5 Eric Ayala

#24 Donta Scott

#4 Fatts Russell

Players Mentioned

#5 Eric Ayala

#24 Donta Scott

#4 Fatts Russell