Box Score CHAMPAIGN, IL – The Maryland men's basketball team dropped a 76-64 contest to the Illinois Fighting Illini on Thursday night. Donta Scott led the Terps (8-6, 0-3 Big Ten) with 17 points to go along with a team-high seven rebounds.

Eric Ayala (16 points), Fatts Russell (11 points) and Hakim Hart (11 points) were the other Terps in double-figures.

Scott and Ayala were the main sources of offense, as the pair combined for 33 points on 12/19 shooting. 

Maryland trailed by as many as 14 in the first half, but the combination of Scott (15 first-half points) and Ayala (10 first-half points) and stellar defense sent the team on a 27-9 run and lifted the team to a 34-30 halftime lead. 

Illinois (11-3, 4-0) was led by Kofi Cockburn's double-double of 23 points and tied his career-high with 18 rebounds. 


Breaking Down The Action

• The Terps fell into an early hole, trailing 21-7 with 10:50 remaining in the first half. However, the team would storm back in a big way led by Scott and Ayala, with the squad going on a 27-9 run over the final 10 minutes to take a 34-30 lead into halftime. 
• The second half was a tightly contested affair as both teams traded buckets and defensive stops. Julian Reese's highlight-reel dunk on Kofi Cockburn gave Maryland a 42-39 lead with 16:04 left in regulation. Illinois would answer, though, retaking the lead at 48-47 with 11:51 to play. The Fighting Illini would use a 12-0 run in total to take a 54-47 lead with 10:31 left, a lead they would never relinquish. 

Double-Figure Update

• Scott (17 points) scored in double-figures for the ninth time this season and 32nd time in his career.
• Ayala (16 points) has scored in double-figures in 12 games this season and now has 63 in his career. 
• Russell (11 points) hit double-figures for the 11th time this season and 87th time in his career. 
• Hart (11 points) scored in double figures for the eighth time this season and 16th time in his career.

Up Next

• The Terps return home for a Sunday evening tilt against the Wisconsin Badgers at 7:30 p.m.
• The game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network and the Maryland Sports Radio Network.