No. 16 Illinois Fighting Illini (6-1) are on the road to face the No. 22 Maryland Terrapins (7-0) on Friday to start their Big Ten Conference schedules. Illinois blew out the Syracuse Orange 73-44 at State Farm Center on Tuesday. Terrence Shannon Jr. was the top scorer with 17 points. Coleman Hawkins had a triple double with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Maryland won their seventh in a row in dominating fashion on Tuesday at KFC Yum! Center, beating the Louisville Cardinals 79-54. Donta Scott scored 18 points to top the scoresheet. With 15 points, Jahmir Young also had an impressive game.
This marks the only meeting of the season between the teams. Illinois and Maryland split their matchups last season, winning one game apiece. The Terrapins triumphed in the last meeting 81-65 at Xfinity Center on January 21. Scott led the Terrapins with 25 points. Alfonso Plummer had 18 points in the loss.
Shannon Jr. is averaging 19.9 points per game to lead the Fighting Illini in scoring this season. Meanwhile, Dain Dainja is grabbing 6.3 rebounds per game, and Hawkins is dishing 4.4 assists. Scott (15.9 ppg), Young (13.9), and Julian Reese (13.7) have supplied much of the Terrapins’ offense. Reese also has posted 7.9 rebounds per game, while Young has recorded 3.4 assists per game. The Fighting Illini are ninth in defensive efficiency in the NCAA, while the Terrapins rank 13th in offensive efficiency.
SportsTips’ College Basketball Pick:
Illinois (+105)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
