COLLEGE PARK, MD – The Maryland men's basketball team played one of its best games of the season as it knocked off the No. 17 Illinois Fighting Illini, 81-65, on Friday night inside the XFINITY Center. The Terps (10-9, 2-6) played inspired basketball led by Donta Scott, who came off the bench to score a career-high 25 points as he made 9-of-12 from the field. Fatts Russell scored 15 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.

Big man Qudus Wahab had his best game in a while with 11 points and four rebounds and help Maryland control the post, along with Scott. The Terps outscored the Illini, 40-16, in the paint as Illinois (13-5, 6-2) was without its All-Big Ten center Kofi Cockburn, who missed the game while in concussion protocols. 

Maryland had its best shooting game of the season, recording a 52.8 percent mark from the field, making 28-of-53. The Terps had not shot better than 50 percent in a game all season. 

The Terps took the lead for good with a 7-0 spurt late in the second half. A Scott three-point play with 6:01 left gave the Terps a 66-60 advantage and they led the rest of the way. Maryland scored the final 11 points of the game. 

The Terrapins are now 4-0 all-time at home against Illinois as Big Ten Conference foes (since 2014-15). Maryland has won eight of its last 10 meetings overall against the Illini.

It was Maryland's second win over a ranked team this season, the Terps beat then-No. 20 Florida in Brooklyn in December. 

From The Coach

"I thought Donta was terrific. He was scoring the basketball and getting to his spot. Across the board, we got contributions from everyone in some way, shape, or fashion. This was a terrific team win." 


Breaking Down The Action

• The Terps hit their first four shots of the game, but Illinois kept pace as the two teams were tied at eight at the under-16 timeout. Maryland's strong offensive half continued as they took a 31-29 lead at the under-four timeout on the back of Scott's 10 points. The Terps would end up taking a 37-35 lead at the halftime after shooting 52% from the field and 40% from three-point range.
• Both teams continued to trade blows into the second half as Russell's fast break layup tied the game at 51 with 13:02 remaining. Julian Reese's three-pointer and subsequent assist to Ayala gave the Terps a 59-58 lead with 7:28 left in the game. That became part of a stretch where Maryland hit five consecutive shots and took a 64-58 lead with 6:01 left. The scrappy Terps buckled down on defense and made Illinois work for every shot, as the XFINITY Center crowd matched the energy on the court. The Terps took the lead for good with a 7-0 spurt late in the second half. Maryland outscored Illinois 24-7 to end the game, tallying the last 11 points of the contest. 

Eyes On Ayala

• In his 100th career start, Ayala moved into 29th on the all-time scoring list at Maryland with nine points in the game. He now has 1,,297 as he passed Maryland legend Joe Smith who scored 1290 from 1993-95. 
• Next on the list is Jay McMillen who scored 1300 points from 1964-67. 

Double-Figure Update

• Scott (25 points) scored in double-figures for the 13th time this season and 36th time in his career.
• Russell (15 points) hit double-figures for the 14th time this season and 90th time in his career. 
• Wahab (11 points) scored in double figures for the seventh time as a Terp and 30th time in his career. It's also the first time in six games he's achieved the feat.
• Hart (10 points) scored in double figures for the 10th time this season and 18th time in his career. He has also scored 10 or more in nine consecutive games. 
   

New Starter

• Simon Wright made his first career start as a Terp on Friday night. 
• Wright started 35 games at Elon, where he played the first four seasons of his college career (2017-21). 

Series History

• The Terrapins are now 4-0 all-time at home against Illinois as Big Ten Conference foes (since 2014-15). 
• Maryland has won eight of its last 10 meetings overall against the Illini.

Up Next

• The Terps will take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in Piscataway, New Jersey, on Tuesday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m.
• The game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network and on the Maryland Sports Radio Network.