Nov 27, 2001

Box Score

By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - The Streak remains intact, while the loss to Arizona is quickly becoming a distant memory.

Juan Dixon scored 25 points and No. 5 Maryland built a 20-point lead and held off No. 2 Illinois 76-63 Tuesday night in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

It was the 80th consecutive non-conference home victory for Maryland, the longest such run in the nation. It was also the Terrapins' fourth straight win overall after a season-opening defeat against Arizona.

"This is good for us to get this big game early in the year. It let people know that we're for real," Dixon said. "I guess a lot of people counted us out after we lost to Arizona, but we did well today."

After the Terrapins (4-1) went up by 12 at halftime, Dixon scored seven points in a 10-2 run at the outset of the second half to make it 51-31.

Despite playing its fifth game in nine days, Illinois (5-1) fought back - even after leading rebounder Brian Cook fouled out with 5:11 left.

The comeback was aided by poor free throw shooting by Maryland, which finished 12-for-24 at the line. The Fighting Illini closed to 66-58 with 2:56 left, but Chris Wilcox scored in the lane, then made one of two free throws on Maryland's next possession for an 11-point cushion.

At that point, the Cole Field House crowd began chanting, "ACC! ACC!"

"The hardest thing to do in basketball is play with the lead," Maryland coach Gary Williams said. "But I thought we did a good job of that in the late part of the game. You try and stay aggressive, and you try to run some clock."

Wilcox scored 19 points and six rebounds off the bench for Maryland, which beat a Top 5 team for the first time since 1998.

"Wilcox just owned us inside," Illinois coach Bill Self said.

Blandon Ferguson had 11 points for Illinois, which three days earlier won the Las Vegas Invitational and was off to its best start in six years. But on this night, the Illini looked rather ordinary.

"We're not very good yet," Self said. "We were exposed. We don't trust each other much. But give Maryland credit - that was a 13-point game that felt like it could be 25."

The Illini shot 33 percent and committed seven turnovers in the decisive first half.

Four different players scored in a 9-2 run that put Illinois up 17-10, but Wilcox had four points and Steve Blake and Byron Mouton hit 3-pointers during a 12-0 spurt that put Maryland ahead for good.

After Ferguson made a free throw for the Illini, Wilcox sank a hook shot and scored on an alley-oop pass from Blake for a 26-18 lead.

Damir Krupalija followed with a 3-pointer - Illinois' first field goal in nearly six minutes - but Maryland reeled off eight straight points to push the margin to 11.

Illinois closed to 34-29, but Drew Nicholas hit a 3-pointer and a layup as Maryland finished the half with a 7-0 spree.

The Terrapins have not lost at Cole Field House since falling to Coppin State on Dec. 12, 1989. The streak began 18 days later against Alcorn State.

"It's one of those things that kind of sneaks up on you," Williams said. "You don't really look at it too much. I know I don't."

Illinois was the highest-ranked non-conference team the Terrapins faced at home since they upset No. 1 Notre Dame in 1979.

"It is November," Williams said, "but it's good for November."