COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Jahmir Young scored 24 points, including a crucial 3-pointer with 14.3 seconds remaining that helped No. 22 Maryland stay undefeated with a 71-66 victory over No. 16 Illinois on Friday night.
Maryland is off to a sparkling 8-0 start under new coach Kevin Willard, who became the first coach in Big Ten history to win each of the first seven games of his tenure by at least 15 points.
Victory No. 8 wasn’t nearly that easy, but the Terps never trailed in the second half, even after a spirited Illinois comeback.
The Illini tied the score in the second half, after trailing by as many as twelve points in the first period, and by seven at halftime.
Terrence Shannon, Jr. led 7-2 Illinois with 19 points. He was joined in double figures by Coleman Hawkins with 16 and RJ Melendez with 13.
Next for the Illini is a trip to Madison Square Garden in New York City, where they’ll face No. 2 Texas on Tuesday.
Illinois Newsroom’s Brian Moline contributed reporting to this story.
