Rodney Rice played a pivotal role as No. 11 Maryland decisively defeated No. 24 Illinois, securing an 88-65 victory in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals. The Terrapins established a commanding 19-point lead just 10 minutes into the game, thanks in large part to Rice’s impressive shooting, where he made four of his first five attempts from beyond the arc.
Continuing his stellar performance, Rice ended the game with 26 points, showcasing remarkable accuracy with 7-of-9 shooting from three-point range. In the second half, he sank a 3-pointer from the right wing and followed it up with an and-1 triple on the next possession, further solidifying his impact on the game.
Maryland’s dominance was evident as they built a lead as large as 36 points, reaching 84-48 with 9:41 left in the game. Freshman Derik Queen contributed significantly with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Ja’Kobi Gillespie added 12 points and nine assists. Jordan Geronimo and Julian Reese chipped in with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
With this victory, the Terrapins improved their record to 25-7 and will face the winner of the quarterfinal matchup between Michigan and Purdue in the semifinals.
On the other side, Illinois had contributions from Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley, who each scored 15 points, while Kylan Boswell added 14 points for the Illini, who ended their season with a record of 21-12.
Takeaways
Maryland demonstrated exceptional offensive efficiency, committing only three turnovers throughout the game. In stark contrast, Illinois struggled with 17 turnovers, resulting in a staggering 22-0 advantage for the Terrapins in points off turnovers.
Illinois faced challenges early, managing only 10 points in the first 9 1/2 minutes after their high-scoring victory over Iowa in the previous round.
Key moment
A significant turning point occurred when Rice hit a 3-pointer with the Terrapins leading 16-10, igniting a 13-0 run that shifted the momentum firmly in Maryland’s favor.
Key stat
In the first half, Maryland held a remarkable 17-0 advantage in points off turnovers, not committing a single turnover while Illinois recorded 11.
Up next
Maryland will face the winner of the Michigan-Purdue matchup in the semifinals on Saturday, while Illinois awaits its NCAA Tournament seeding on Sunday.
