Terps Trounce Illinois
The Maryland Terrapins opened conference play with their most complete game of the season, crushing the Illinois Fighting Illini 84-59 before an ecstatic home crowd at Xfinity Center.
The Terps began their Big Ten season opener on a 17-5 run and never looked back.
A jumper by star guard Melo Trimble made the score 25-10 with 8:34 to go before the half and a three-pointer by Jaylen Brantley with five seconds to go before the break punctuated a stellar first half for Maryland, which led 39-23 at halftime.
Maryland, which won its sixth straight game, made 17 of 31 shots in the first half while the Terps defensive pressure held the Fighting Illini to eight of 30 shooting including one for 10 from three-point range.
It was more of the same in the second half as a Trimble layup gave Maryland a 54-33 lead with 14:08 to go and the rout was on.
Trimble led the way for the Terrapins with 20 points while Brantley chipped in with 13 points, five rebounds and three assists while providing a spark off the bench.
Freshman point guard Anthony Cowan scored 12 points dished out six assists had three rebounds and three steals. Transfer L.G. Gill had his best game of the season. He scored six points and had a team-high seven rebounds while bringing a boost off the bench.
Freshman Justin Jackson added 12 points four rebounds two blocks and one steal. for the (13-1, 1-0 Big Ten) Terps.
The Terps shot 56 percent from the field while holding Illinois to 37 percent shooting from the floor. They were four for 22 from beyond the arc while Maryland was seven for 21 from long distance.
Maryland led the way with 48 points in the paint compared to 24 for the Fighting Illini. Maryland’s Ivan Bender scored seven points and had five rebounds while working in the low post for the injured Damonte Dodd and Michal Cekovsky.
The Terps also had 31 points off the bench while Illinois had 17. Maryland never trailed and had their largest lead at 31 points with 7:01 to go in the game.
The free throws and rebounds were about even but the Terps led the way with 16 assists to nine for Illinois.
Illinois was led by Malcolm Hill who had a team-high 21 points and seven rebounds. Mike Thorne Jr. added 10 points and seven rebounds in a losing effort for the (10-4, 0-1) Fighting Illini.
