Box Score COLLEGE PARK, MD -- On a day fueled by lots of emotion, Maryland men's basketball nearly upset No. 14 Illinois before losing 85-80 on Saturday at XFINITY Center. 

The Terps tied the game at 68-68 with 5:39 remaining in the game after entering the locker room in a deficit. Maryland couldn't break the tie and the game went down to the wire. Terrance Shannon Jr. went 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the final 19 seconds to secure the win. 

Maryland men's basketball fans joined in a moment of silence during pregame while throwing up the iconic "V" to honor the late Hall of Fame head coach Lefty Driesell. The Terps also wore their throwback uniforms that commemorated the teams Driesell coached in the 1980s  in front of a sellout crowd.   
 

You look great Terp Nation 😍 pic.twitter.com/KqiHtkFOLQ

— Maryland Men's Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) February 17, 2024

Maryland (14-12, 6-9 B1G) was led by Jahmir Young's game-high 28 points. He added nine rebounds and six assists. Young also eclipsed 2,500 career points in the contest.

Julian Reese notched his 14th double-double of the season with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Donta Scott also scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half to help Maryland in its comeback efforts. 
 

JuJu, with authority pic.twitter.com/PefpvVdNpK

— Maryland Men's Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) February 17, 2024

Illinois (19-6, 10-4 B1G) was led by Shannon and Marcus Domask who scored 27 and 19 points respectively.  


Breaking Down the Action

• Illinois knocked down three three-pointers to open the game, but Jahmir Young responded with one from the top of the key and a converted and-one. The Illini added another three-pointer and the Terps reached the first media timeout down 12-8. 
• Jamie Kaiser, Jr. knocked down a three-pointer to bring the Terps within one point at 11:18, but the Illini remained in control. DeShawn Harris-Smith fought for his third bucket of the day at the rim as Maryland made for of its last five to trail 24-23 at 7:42. 
• The Terps claimed their first lead of the game as Young connected on two free throws. He converted another and-one at 5:46 and the crowd erupted. 
• Illinois keyed a brief 8-0 run, but Julian Reese and Young scored down the stretch to thwart the run. Maryland entered halftime trailing 43-38. 
• Harris-Smith made a layup through contact to bring the score to 54-51. The Terps wouldn't go away and Young scored at the rim to make it a two-point game. 
• Young converted another and-one at 6:26 as the game was still in favor of Illinois, 66-64. The Maryland defense held Illinois scoreless for over three minutes and had all the momentum.
• Donta Scott connected on two free throws to briefly tie the game at 68-68. But Maryland never broke the tie and Illinois stayed in front to secure the win.

Willard's Take 
"He had some much love for Maryland, he always talked about Maryland," head coach Kevin Willard about about Lefty Driesell. "More than anything he would ask me about my family and we would talk about his kids. I always enjoyed that the conversation would get to his kids." 

From The Guys
"They got more aggressive defensively as the game went on," Jahmir Young said regarding Illinois's defense. "They started to blitz pick and rolls and just switch up the different reads that they were giving me and my teammates."

Double-Figure Factors

Jahmir Young in double figures

Rinse, repeat. pic.twitter.com/NI7ic7ttEf

— Maryland Men's Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) February 17, 2024

• Jahmir Young (28 points) dropped double-figures for the 130th time in his career and the 24th time in 25 games he's played this season. It's also the 21st game in a row that he's played and scored double-digits. Young scored 20-plus points for the 15th time this season and the 56th time in his career - the most among all active Big Ten players.
• Julian Reese (18 points) had the 50th double-figure game of his career, with the junior doing so for the 21st time this season.
• Donta Scott (17 points) tallied double-figures for the 80th time over his five-year career, and his 15th time this season. 

Fear The Jahmir  

• With 28 points in the game, Jahmir Young added to his career scoring total and now has 2,503 points. He is the second-leading active scorer in the nation behind Texas' Max Abmas (2,987). 
• Young entered Wednesday's game as the third-leading scorer in the Big Ten and the No. 17 scorer nationally at 20.9 points per game.
• Young is one of two active NCAA players with 2,000+ points, 700+ rebounds, and 400+ assists (2,503 points, 744 rebounds, 467 assists).
• Against Rutgers on Feb. 6, Young became the sixth NCAA player since 2006 to post 1,000 points at two different institutions after scoring 1,421 at Charlotte from 2019-22. He now has 1,082 points in his two seasons at Maryland. He was the third-fastest player to reach that milestone and the fifth player in program history to do so in just two seasons.
• Young posted the 51st 500-point season in program history in the Terps last outing against Iowa. He now has 527 this season. Young eclipsed the 500-point mark in back-to-back seasons after tallying 553 last season.  
• Young is looking to become the first Terp since Greivis Vasquez in 2009-10 to average over 20 points, four rebounds, and four assists per game. Entering the matchup, Young averages 20.9 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Scott Climbing Up Charts 

• Donta Scott scored 17 points, increasing his career total to 1,620, passing Ernest Graham (1977-81) for 15th all-time. He's 38 away from passing Melo Trimble (2014-17) who scored 1658 in his career. 
• Scott grabbed five rebounds to increase his career total to 833 which is ninth all-time. Next on the list is Tom McMillen (1971-74) with 859 rebounds.
• Scott broke the program record for starts by passing Steve Blake (1999-2003) earlier this year. He added to that number with his 140th career start over his five-year career. It was also his 154th game as a Terp to add to his other all-time record. 
• Scott is one of five players in program history to have 1,500 points and 800 rebounds in a career earlier this season. He joined Lonny Baxter (1,858 & 998), Tom McMillen (1,807 & 859), Keith Booth (1,776 & 916) and Terence Morris (1,733 & 925) earlier this year.  

Juju Beast

• Julian Reese recorded his 14th double-double of the season and the 21st of his career with 18 points and 11 rebounds. It was his 15th game this season with double-figure rebounds and the 21st of his career. Reese has the fourth-most double-doubles as a Terp dating back to 2010-11 and is tied for eighth nationally for double-doubles this season.
• Entering the matchup, Reese ranked No. 17 nationally and second in the Big Ten, averaging 10.1 rebounds per game. 
• Reese is the only D-I player averaging 10 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks and one steal this season. In the last 25 years, the only other Big Ten player to put up these numbers was Michigan State's Xavier Tillman in 2019-20.
• Reese is one of two players nationally to have over 300 points, 200 rebounds, 40 blocks and 25 steals this season.
• Reese is tied for 13th nationally in total rebounds (263) and is on pace to crack the top-25 for a single season at Maryland. Bob McDonald (1960-61) ranks 25th for a single season with 279.
• Reese is looking to become just the fifth Terp since 1992-93 to average a double-double for a season. Jalen Smith (2019-20), Bruno Fernando (2018-19), Jordan Williams (2010-11) and Joe Smith (1993-94 & 1994-95) are the only other Terps to do it.

Honoring Lefty 

In honor of Lefty ✌️ pic.twitter.com/5Ced8ZzQu4

— Maryland Men's Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) February 17, 2024

• Hall of Fame head coach Lefty Driesell was honored during the pregame after passing away at 92 years old. 
• Fans joined in a moment of silence while throwing up his iconic "V." The Terps also wore their throwback uniforms inspired by the teams he coached in the 1980s.
• Driesell served as head coach at four different institutions: Davidson (1960-69), Maryland (1969-86), James Madison (1988-96), and Georgia State (1997-03). He held an overall record of 786-394 and was named Coach of the Year nine times throughout four different conferences including twice in the ACC with Maryland (1975, 1980).
• His 786 victories still ranks 15th all-time among all NCAA Division I coaches and is 23rd overall at all levels of NCAA basketball. He is among 10 coaches all-time to have coached 40 seasons. 
• Driesell was honored in 2018 with induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. That came after his induction into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.

Honoring The 1984 & 2004 Teams

The 2004 ACC Champs! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Tg2CWZG2Jc

— Maryland Men's Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) February 18, 2024

• Maryland honored its 1984 and 2004 ACC Champion basketball teams on Saturday. Members of the respective teams joined at mid-court for the commemoration. 
• From the 2004 team: Travis Garrison, Will Bowers, Nik Caner Medley, Travis Garrison, Michael Jones, Jamar Smith, DJ Strawberry, and ACC Tournament MVP John Gilchrist.
• From the 1984 team, Jeff Baxter, Mark Fothergill, Keith Gatlin, Terry Long, Bryan Palmer, Steve Rivers, and Herman Veal.

Numbers To Know

• 1: Entering the matchup, the Terps were allowing 63.8 points per game which ranks first in the Big Ten and 14th nationally.
• 5: The Terps are fifth-best nationally in defensive efficiency according to KenPom.com.
• 14: Julian Reese recorded his 14th double-double of the season. 
• 15: Donta Scott moved to 15th all-time in career points.
• 50: Reese scored in double figures for the 50th time of his career. 
• 80: Scott scored in double figures for the 80th time of his career.
• 130: Young scored in double figures for the 130th time in his career. 
• 2,503: Young's career points - 2nd most nationally for an active player. 

Up Next

• Maryland plays at No. 20 Wisconsin on Feb. 20. The game will tip-off at 9 p.m. ET from Kohl Center and will be streamed on Peacock. Fans can listen on Maryland Sports Radio Network.