CHAMPAIGN, IL – Led by the dynamic duo of Julian Reese and Derik Queen, Maryland men's basketball earned its second win over a ranked team this season with its 91-70 win over No. 17 Illinois at State Farm Center on Thursday. Maryland, No. 24 in the NCAA NET, improved to 15-5 overall and 5-4 in Big Ten play.
Kevin Willard picked up his eighth win over a ranked team as Maryland's head coach. The Terps have now beaten Illinois in 11 of the last 14 matchups, including five of the last six meetings in Champaign.
Reese (career-highs of 27 points and 17 rebounds) and Queen (25 points and six rebounds) combined for 52 points and 23 rebounds. That point total was the most for the pair in a game this season, bettering the mark of 41 vs. UMES on Dec. 28, 2024. It was the first time Maryland had two players score 25 or more points in a game since Feb. 20, 2011 when Jordan Williams (26) and Terrell Stoglin (25) did it against NC State.
Reese earned his sixth 20-point performance of the season and 30th career double-double. His 30 double-doubles rank eighth most in program history. He nearly earned his double-double in the first half alone, collecting nine in the first 20 minutes of action. The senior also blocked three shots in the game.
Queen added four assists and three steals to his stat line. It was his seventh game scoring 20 or more points this season. Since 2008-09, Queen has the second most 20-point games behind Melo Trimble (10).
Ja'Kobi Gillespie followed the frontcourt duo with 15 points, eight assists and three steals. He also played outstanding defense on Illinois Kasparas Jakucionis, who was limited to 5-of-14 shooting and 21 points.
Selton Miguel rounded out double-digit scorers with 14 points.
Maryland's 91 points were its most on the road against a ranked team since winning at No. 8 Virginia, 91-87, on Jan. 31, 2002. Its 62 points in the paint are the most by any team in the Big Ten this season. Illinois' home loss was also its largest since falling by 22 to Penn State on Feb. 11, 2018, 74-52.
The Terps boasted a 38-35 halftime lead. They built their lead by dominating the paint. Thirty-four of their 38 points came in the paint, and Reese and Queen combined for 27 points. This was the first game this season in which Reese and Queen scored double-digit points in the first half (Reese, 14 and Queen, 13).
Maryland has a 16-8 head-to-head series record against Illinois, including an impressive 7-2 mark in road games. Last season, the Terps defeated the No. 10 Illini, 76-67, on Jan. 14, 2024. In back-to-back seasons, the Terps have beaten a ranked Illinois team on the road.
Willard's Take
"Their defense forces you to take pull-up jumpers," Willard said. "I said we're going to run a lot of empty side pick and rolls. We're going to hit our big guys. And you guys aren't going to shoot jumpers. You guys are going to just go at these young, big kids. I really give Ja'Kobi and the guards credit because sometimes it could be a little boring to come off the pick and roll and dump it. … I'm happy for that group because it's a good road win."
Breaking Down The Action
- Maryland led 10-4 at the first media timeout. All 10 of its points were scored in the paint, and six of them came off turnovers and on the fastbreak.
- Illinois called a timeout after Maryland made six of its last seven shots from the floor. The Terps led 22-15, led by Julian Reese's eight points and seven rebounds.
- At the 3:36 media timeout, the Terps once again led by seven at 31-24. Derik Queen joined Reese in double figures as Maryland continued its dominance in the paint. Twenty-eight of its 31 points came in the paint.
- Maryland led 38-35 at halftime. The duo of Reese and Queen combined for 27 points and 13 rebounds. It was the first game this season where both totaled double-digit points. Furthermore, 34 of Maryland's 38 points were scored in the paint.
- The Terps sparked an 8-0 run and led 52-41 as Illinois called a timeout at 14:05 in the second. Reese had already scored 20 points, his sixth time doing so this season.
- Maryland remained in front, leading 66-56 with 7:58 to go. Rodney Rice drilled a 3-pointer at the end of the shot clock to put Maryland up by 10.
- A converted and-one by Queen at 5:47 put the Terps ahead 75-61. He joined Reese as the second Terp to score 20+ points.
- Maryland made four straight shots from the floor to go up by 17. They cruised the rest of the way for the win.
Double-Figure Factors
- Julian Reese recorded 27 points for his 69th career game in double digits. He has scored double figures for the 13th time this season.
- Derik Queen scored 25 points, scoring double-digit points for the 15th time in his freshman season.
- Ja'Kobi Gillespie scored 15 points and earned his 56th career game in double figures. It was his 16th game scoring double digits this season.
- Selton Miguel tallied 14 points and earned his 75th career game in double figures. It was his 14th as a Terp this season. He leads the Terps with 1,415 career points in his five-year career.
Juju Beast
- Julian Reese scored 27 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, recording his 30th career double-double. It was his eighth double-double of the season.
- Since 1996-97, Reese has the third most double-doubles of any Terp in program history. Lonny Baxter (1998-02) and Jordan Williams (2001-11) are tied for the most with 33.
- Overall, he ranks eighth in program history in double-doubles. Larry Gibson (1976-79) is seventh with 32.
- Reese moved to seventh on Maryland's all-time rebounds list. He now has 872 boards, passing the No. 8 spot shared by Donta Scott (2019-24) and Tom McMillen (1971-74), who each grabbed 859 rebounds. Next on the list is Keith Booth (916 from 1993-97).
- The big man blocked three shots, ranking eighth on Maryland's all-time blocked shots list with 155 in his career. Joe Smith ranks seventh with 190 blocks from 1993-95. Reese is one of nine players in program history to record over 1,100 career points and 800 career rebounds.
Queen Of The Court
- Freshman Derik Queen has been an unstoppable force for the Terps. He scored 25 points, his seventh game scoring 20 or more points.
- Since 2008-09, there have been over 30 20-point games by Maryland freshmen. In just his first 20 games, Queen has seven. It's the second most in that span behind Melo Trimble (10).
- Queen's points per game mark (15.6) ranks fourth-best among Maryland freshmen dating back to 1947-48. Joe Smith has the best per-game mark (19.4). Furthermore, 18 of the top 26 freshmen scorers in program history were NBA Draft picks.
Series History
- Maryland boasts a 16-8 head-to-head series record against Illinois, including an impressive 7-2 mark in road games.
- After defeating the No. 10 Illini, 76-67, on Jan. 14, 2024, last season, the Terps have beaten a ranked Illinois team on the road in back-to-back seasons.
- Kevin Willard is 3-1 in his career against Illinois.
Numbers And Nuggets
- 1: For the first time, Derik Queen and Julian Reese each scored in double-figures in the first half of a game.
- 2: Maryland has two wins over ranked teams this season.
- 6: Reese scored 20+ points for the sixth time this season.
- 7: Queen has seven 20-point games this season.
- 8: This was Willard's eighth win over a ranked team as the Terps' head coach.
- 8: Illinois was the eighth opponent to have a season-high in turnovers against Maryland this season.
- 11: This was the 11th game this season that Julian Reese collected 10 or more rebounds.
- 16: Maryland boasts a 16-8 head-to-head series record against Illinois, including an impressive 7-2 mark in road games.
- 23: The Terps have 23 10-0 or better runs this year.
- 24: The Terps are ranked No. 24 in the NET Rankings.
- 30: Reese posted his 30th career double-double, which is the third-most for a Maryland player since 1996-97.
- 62: Maryland's 62 points in the paint are the most by any team in the Big Ten this season.
- 91: Maryland's 91 points were its most on the road against a ranked team since winning at No. 8 Virginia, 91-87, on Jan. 31, 2002.
- 453: The Terps have now made a 3-pointer in 453 consecutive games. Maryland started the game 0-for-7 before Gillespie made one with 12:16 left in the second half.
- 1,415: Miguel leads the Terps with 1,415 career points in his five-year career.
Up Next
- Maryland continues its road trip, playing at Indiana on Jan. 26. The game will tip off at noon EST and be streamed on CBS and Maryland Sports Radio Network.
