Maryland @ Illinois preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 7, 2019 ) Illinois 58, Maryland 59

Ninth-ranked Maryland visits No. 21 Illinois on Friday with the winner claiming sole possession of first place in the Big Ten. The Terrapins have won five consecutive games, including a 56-51 comeback victory over Rutgers on Tuesday after climbing back into the top 10, and hope to take a big step toward their first conference regular-season title since 2009-10 by completing the season sweep of the Fighting Illini after a 59-58 win Dec. 7.

“I told the guys to enjoy it because it’s hard,” Maryland coach Mark Turgeon told reporters. “We weren’t at our best but when we had to be we were good.” Illinois looks to bounce back from its first loss in a month after it dropped a 72-65 decision to 17th-ranked Iowa on Sunday. The Fighting Illini had won their previous seven games before they were held to three points in the final four minutes in the loss to the Hawkeyes, and hope to stay in the mix for their first Big Ten regular-season championship in 15 years by improving to 13-1 at home. “We’re going to be fine and we’re going to get back on a winning streak,” Illinois guard Andres Feliz told reporters. “We’re in first place for a reason and we’ve got to come back, watch film and stick together.”

TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: Fox Sports 1

ABOUT MARYLAND (18-4, 8-3 Big Ten): Anthony Cowan Jr., who is the reigning Big Ten Player of the Week, went 8-of-9 from the free throw line en route to a game-high 17 points in the win against Rutgers. Jalen Smith added 14 points, 15 rebounds and a career-high six blocked shots to register his fifth straight double-double while Darryl Morsell finished with 14 points and six boards. Aaron Wiggins, who is averaging 10.6 points per game this season, was limited to five points on 2-of-8 shooting from the field as the Terrapins improved to 8-0 against Rutgers since joining the conference in 2014 despite shooting 34 percent from the floor.

ABOUT ILLINOIS (16-6, 8-3): Feliz scored a team-high 17 points and pulled down four rebounds while Trent Frazier added 12 points and three steals but the Fighting Illini were outscored 11-3 down the stretch after holding a one-point lead against the Hawkeyes. “We couldn’t get a stop for some reason,” Frazier told reporters. “The ball just kept going to them and every bounce was just going their way but no excuses.” Ayo Dosunmu tallied 11 points to finish in double figures for the seventh straight game while freshman phenom Kofi Cockburn was held to six points - eight below his season average.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Smith was tied for sixth nationally entering Thursday in double-doubles (13) this season.

2. Illinois has won seven straight home games.

3. Cowan is averaging 19.5 points and 4.8 assists over his last four games.

PREDICTION: Illinois 73, Maryland 72