Illinois Lastly Wins at Maryland - NetScouts Basketball

School Park, MD — In an exciting NCAA males’s basketball conflict, the Illinois Combating Illini secured an 85-80 victory towards the Maryland Terrapins on Saturday. This win marks Illinois’ first victory at Maryland since 2011. The sport was intently contested, with Maryland briefly tying the rating at 68 factors. Regardless of Maryland’s latest woes in shut video games, they put up a robust struggle towards the Combating Illini. Illinois’ Terrence Shannon Jr. exploded for 27 factors and 4 blocks whereas Marcus Domask had a double-double for 19 factors and 12 rebounds. The Terps by no means trailed by greater than seven factors this sport however couldn’t break via for the win. Maryland was led by their prime gamers, Jahmir Younger and Julian Reese.

Illinois shot 48% from the sector and virtually 89% from the foul line. That they had dominating performances from upperclassmen Shannon Jr. and Domask. Shannon began off form of sluggish within the first half however after taunting from the gang he picked up the depth as the sport went on. He has put himself within the prime 20 in consensus mock drafts together with his play this 12 months. He has nice dimension and size, which you can’t educate, and he’s very instinctual. Shannon may be very shifty and possesses nice ball management and handles. The attribute to his sport that can not be ignored is his pace. He has a wickedly fast first step that may be a downside for defenders. He can blow previous defenders straight away, particularly his matchup with Jahmir Younger who is kind of a bit shorter than him. He was in search of the additional go early on however determined to take the sport over within the second half. He covers a lot floor, and he’s proficient powerful shot creator and finisher. He completed with 27 factors with 14 of these factors coming from the charity stripe. General, an excellent efficiency from him and I feel he solidified himself as a excessive choose.

Domask was extraordinarily spectacular, he’s the second main scorer for Illinois, placing up 20-plus factors in his previous few contests. He had his method with Donta Scott all sport, it was a transparent matchup downside. He was in search of the perfect shot, picked his spots each time he touched the ball. Domask flashed excessive degree ball dealing with and publish strikes for his dimension. He obtained to the paint at will it appeared however did look a bit of flustered as soon as Maryland put extra our bodies on him to make him surrender the ball. He seemed to assault the basket each possession and performed bully ball. Maryland needed to change out Scott and put Reese on him out on the perimeter which was one other mismatch for the Terps. There have been a minimum of three events the place he boxed out the taller Reese for rebounds. Domask left scouts very impressed together with Shannon.

Maryland’s Jahmir Younger had an amazing sport, ending with 28 factors, six assists and 9 rebounds. He went 11-for-11 on the foul line and made an affect. Younger is the staff’s main scorer and has been heavy lifting all 12 months however, on this sport, he confirmed refreshed power. He had plenty of burst and picked his spots on this sport. He was a mismatch for Shannon, however he matched his manufacturing, it was like they have been in a heavyweight bout towards one another. He confirmed environment friendly aggression going to the basket when he seen his spots. He made good reads and displayed good courtroom imaginative and prescient; he made powerful photographs. He adopted via on his missed photographs with fervor I haven’t constantly all 12 months leading to his excessive rebound complete. Reese had a robust efficiency ending together with his fourth consecutive double-double, 18 factors and 11 rebounds. He didn’t reap the benefits of his matchup towards Coleman Hawkins as usually as he ought to, however he was nonetheless bodily. Reese made notable enchancment to his free throw taking pictures mechanics and transformed six of seven foul photographs. His hand motion gave the impression to be extra of a observe via and never the wonky movement he often shows. General, it was an encouraging signal for the Terps massive man.

Maryland is now 14-12 with a 6-9 convention document, whereas Illinois is 19-6 and is now second within the convention with a 10-4 document.

This text was written by Kenneth Moore, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You’ll be able to observe us on Facebook, or on twitter.

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