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No. 11 Illinois Secures Top-Four Seed in Big Ten with Win Over Maryland
Fighting Illini complete regular-season sweep of Terrapins for first time since 2014-15
Published on Mar. 9, 2026
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No. 11 Illinois defeated Maryland 78-72 in a tight Big Ten matchup on Sunday, clinching a top-four seed in the conference tournament. David Mirkovic led the Fighting Illini with 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Keaton Wagler scored 11 of his 11 points in the second half. Illinois overcame a poor 3-point shooting performance by dominating in the paint and hitting 21 of 26 free throws. Maryland's Andre Mills scored a game-high 30 points in the loss.
Why it matters
The win secures a top-four seed and a triple bye for Illinois in the upcoming Big Ten tournament, giving them a significant advantage. It also marks the first time the Fighting Illini have completed a regular-season sweep of Maryland since the Terrapins joined the conference in 2014-15.
The details
Illinois led for the entire second half, though Maryland kept the game close, cutting the deficit to 72-70 late. The Fighting Illini were able to pull away in the final minute, however, with a key layup from Mirkovic. Illinois dominated in the paint, outscoring Maryland 42-20, and shot an efficient 47.3% from the field.
- The game was played on Sunday, March 9, 2026.
The players
David Mirkovic
A key contributor for Illinois, scoring 22 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
Keaton Wagler
Scored 11 of his 11 points in the second half to help Illinois secure the victory.
Andre Mills
Led Maryland with a game-high 30 points in the losing effort.
The takeaway
This win puts Illinois in a strong position heading into the Big Ten tournament, as they have secured a top-four seed and a triple bye. The Fighting Illini's ability to overcome a poor 3-point shooting performance by dominating in the paint and at the free throw line demonstrates their versatility and resilience as a team.
