School Park, MD — In an exhilarating 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 combat 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 recreation however couldn’t break by for the win. Maryland was led by their high 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 gradual 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 high 20 in consensus mock drafts along with his play this 12 months. He has nice dimension and size, which you can not educate, and he’s very instinctual. Shannon may be very shifty and possesses nice ball management and handles. The attribute to his recreation that can’t be missed is his velocity. He has a wickedly fast first step that could be a downside for defenders. He can blow previous defenders immediately, particularly his matchup with Jahmir Younger who is sort of a bit shorter than him. He was on the lookout for the additional cross early on however determined to take the sport over within the second half. He covers a lot floor, and he’s gifted 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 believe he solidified himself as a excessive decide.
Domask was extraordinarily spectacular, he’s the second main scorer for Illinois, placing up 20-plus factors in his previous couple of contests. He had his manner with Donta Scott all recreation, it was a transparent matchup downside. He was on the lookout for the perfect shot, picked his spots each time he touched the ball. Domask flashed excessive degree ball dealing with and put up strikes for his dimension. He bought to the paint at will it appeared however did look somewhat flustered as soon as Maryland put extra our bodies on him to make him quit the ball. He regarded 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 important recreation, ending with 28 factors, six assists and 9 rebounds. He went 11-for-11 on the foul line and made an impression. Younger is the workforce’s main scorer and has been heavy lifting all 12 months however, on this recreation, he confirmed refreshed power. He had numerous burst and picked his spots on this recreation. 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 court docket imaginative and prescient; he made powerful pictures. He adopted by on his missed pictures with fervor I haven’t constantly all 12 months leading to his excessive rebound whole. Reese had a robust efficiency ending along with his fourth consecutive double-double, 18 factors and 11 rebounds. He didn’t reap the benefits of his matchup towards Coleman Hawkins as typically 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 pictures. His hand motion gave the impression to be extra of a comply with by and never the wonky movement he normally shows. General, it was an encouraging signal for the Terps huge man.
Maryland is now 14-12 with a 6-9 convention report, whereas Illinois is 19-6 and is now second within the convention with a 10-4 report.
This text was written by Kenneth Moore, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You possibly can comply with us on Fb, or on twitter.
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