Nov. 29, 2011

Box Score

Postgame Interviews: Coach Weber | Sam Maniscalco | Brandon Paul

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - Sam Maniscalco scored 24 points, Brandon Paul had 17 and undefeated Illinois pulled away to a 71-62 victory over Maryland on Tuesday night in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

The Fighting Illini (7-0) trailed at halftime and led by only one point with 8 minutes left before Maniscalco knocked down a pair of 3-pointers in a 10-2 run that proved too difficult for the feisty Terrapins to overcome.

Terrell Stoglin scored 25 for Maryland (3-3) and James Padgett had 16. The Terrapins had won six straight in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge and were riding a 13-game home winning streak against nonconference opponents.

But Maryland, playing its first season under coach Mark Turgeon, gave the Illini all they could handle before fading down the stretch.

Illinois trailed 41-37 before Paul scored on a drive and Maniscalco hit a 3-pointer to give the Illini their first lead since 2-0. Nnanna Egwu followed with a layup and Tyler Griffey popped a jumper from deep in the corner to make it 47-41 and seal the 10-point run.

After the lead dwindled to 51-50, Maniscalco scored from beyond the arc with 7:45 left. The 6-foot guard popped another 3 with 5:28 remaining to make it 59-52, and although the Terrapins closed to five points in the final minute, they couldn't complete the comeback.

Maryland limited the Illini to 40 percent shooting and held a 17-15 edge on the boards in taking a 35-31 halftime lead. The margin might have been more if the Terrapins didn't miss seven of 15 free throws.

Padgett scored Maryland's opening six points, and Illinois missed seven of its first eight shots while the Terrapins took an 8-2 lead. Minutes later, Sean Mosley drilled a 3-pointer to cap a 7-2 spurt that made it 20-11.

After Paul scored five points in a 9-0 run that tied it, Stoglin scored Maryland's next nine points -- including a pair of 3-pointers and a pull-up jumper in the lane -- for a 29-23 cushion. It was 30-25 before follow-shots by Padgett and Berend Weijs rebuilt the Terrapins' lead to nine.

The win was the Bruce Weber's 200th at Illinois. He is now 200-86 (.699) in his ninth season with the Fighting Illini.