College Park, MD – According to FOX Baltimore… The University of Maryland men’s basketball team concluded its regular season on a disappointing note, falling 78-72 to the No. 11 ranked Illinois Fighting Illini on Sunday afternoon at the Xfinity Center in College Park. This loss marked the Maryland Terrapins‘ 20th defeat of the season, the most since the 1988-89 campaign, under the guidance of first-year head coach Buzz Williams.
Despite the overall struggles, the Terps showed resilience in their final outing, keeping pace with a strong Illinois squad throughout much of the contest. Illinois, now standing at 24-7 overall and 15-5 in Big Ten conference play, secured a hard-fought victory that propelled them into the quarterfinals of the upcoming Big Ten Tournament with a bye on Friday. The win also tied a program record for the Illini with their eighth road victory in Big Ten action this season.
David Mirkovic led the charge for Illinois, delivering a double-double performance with 22 points and 11 rebounds. His efforts proved crucial in the closing moments, including a key layup that helped maintain Illinois’ lead. The Fighting Illini struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 5 of 24 three-point attempts, but their balanced scoring and defensive tenacity made the difference. Kylan Boswell and Keaton Wagler each contributed 11 points to support the effort.
For Maryland, the game highlighted both the promise and pitfalls of their tumultuous year. Freshman standout Andre Mills emerged as the team’s offensive spark, pouring in a game-high 30 points. His scoring prowess has been a bright spot amid the team’s inconsistencies. Darius Adams added 14 points, while Diggy Coit chipped in 10, rounding out the Terps’ double-digit scorers. However, the team faltered in critical areas, shooting poorly from three-point range at 1 of 14 and committing 14 turnovers that Illinois capitalized on.
The contest remained tight until the latter stages. Illinois held a slim 63-62 advantage when Ben Humrichous drained a three-pointer, igniting a 7-0 run that gave the visitors some breathing room. Maryland clawed back to within two points late in the game, but a successful video challenge on an out-of-bounds call preserved possession for Illinois with just over a minute remaining. Mirkovic then capitalized with his layup, extending the lead to four.
In Maryland’s ensuing possession, the Terps burned most of the shot clock before Mills’ three-point attempt rimmed out, sealing their fate. In the final seconds, with the score at 76-72, Adams drove for a layup but couldn’t convert, allowing Illinois to close out the victory from the free-throw line.
This defeat left Maryland with an 11-20 overall record and a 4-16 mark in Big Ten play, placing them just one game ahead of Penn State for the conference’s last position. The season has been a challenging one for the University of Maryland program, marked by offensive woes and defensive lapses that have plagued the team throughout. Coach Williams, in his debut year, now turns his attention to the postseason, where the Terps earned the No. 17 seed in the Big Ten Tournament.
Looking ahead, Maryland will face the 16th-seeded Oregon Ducks in the tournament’s opening round on Tuesday. This matchup presents an opportunity for the Terps to build momentum and potentially extend their season, despite entering as underdogs. For a team that has endured 20 losses, any success in the tournament would serve as a valuable learning experience heading into the offseason.
One statistical highlight from the game underscores Maryland’s potential: Mills’ 30 points not only led all scorers but also demonstrated his growth as a key contributor. As an example of the team’s late-game fightback, the Terps’ response to Illinois’ run, narrowing the gap to two points, showed the grit that Williams has instilled, even if it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.
As the Big Ten Tournament approaches, fans in Maryland will hope for a spark from this young squad to salvage what has been a difficult year. The Terps’ journey reflects the ups and downs of college basketball, where perseverance can lead to unexpected turns. For more information, visit FOX Baltimore.