Illinois Survives Scare from Maryland in 78-72 Victory

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Even as heavy favorites, the No. 11 Illinois Fighting Illini found themselves in a tight battle against the struggling Maryland Terrapins on Sunday, ultimately prevailing 78-72 in a down-to-the-wire affair in College Park. Freshman forward David Mirkovic was the star for Illinois, scoring 22 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, while Maryland's Andre Mills poured in a game-high 30 points in the losing effort.

Why it matters

This game highlighted Illinois' ability to win a close, grind-it-out contest against a lesser opponent, an important skill for a team with national championship aspirations. However, the Illini's struggles to put away the Terrapins, who entered the game with just 11 wins, raised questions about their focus and consistency as the postseason approaches.

The details

Illinois entered the game as a heavy favorite, but Maryland matched the Illini blow-for-blow throughout, trailing by just three at halftime. The game turned on a key sequence in the second half, when Illinois forward David Mirkovic was fouled on a three-point attempt and the officials upgraded the call to a Flagrant 1, allowing the Illini to extend their lead. Maryland made a late push behind the efforts of guard Andre Mills, who scored 19 of his 30 points in the second half, but Mirkovic and the Illini were able to hold on for the victory.

• The game was played on Sunday, March 8, 2026 in College Park, Maryland.
• Illinois entered the game with a 24-7 overall record and 15-5 mark in Big Ten play.

What’s next

The Illini will look to build on this narrow victory as they prepare for the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament, where they hope to make a deep run as a national championship contender.