March 8, 2026; College Park, Maryland, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward David Mirkovic (0) drives to the basket by Maryland Terrapins center Colin Metcalf (45) during the first half at Xfinity Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images David Mirkovic had 22 points and 11 rebounds as No. 11 Illinois cruised to a 78-72 Big Ten victory over Maryland on Sunday in College Park, Maryland.
Keaton Wagler scored all 11 of his points in the second half as the Fighting Illini (24-7, 15-5 Big Ten) completed a regular-season sweep of Maryland for the first time since the Terrapins joined the Big Ten in 2014-15 in a game that was tight throughout.
Kylan Boswell added 11 points as Illinois secured a top-four seed in the Big Ten tournament and earned a triple win in Friday’s quarterfinal round in Chicago.
The Illini, who have the most efficient offense in the country according to KenPom.com, missed nine straight 3-point attempts in a period, allowing the Terrapins to stay close.
Illinois made 47.3% of its shots from the field and 21 of 26 free throws, which helped it overcome a 5-of-24 (20.8%) performance from deep.
Andre Mills scored 30 points to lead Maryland (11-20, 4-16), which enters the Big Ten Tournament as a No. 17 seed and will face No. 16 Oregon on Tuesday afternoon.
Darius Adams scored 14 points and David Coit, one of four Terrapins selected for Senior Day, added 10.
In a game that was tied 13 times, Maryland never led in the second half and never pulled away.
Illinois took its largest lead of the game at 70-62 with 4 minutes, 42 seconds left when Zvonimir Ivicic (8 points) made two free throws.
The Terrapins got two buckets each from Mills and Adams to cut the deficit to 72-20 with 1:33 left, but failed to make a field goal the rest of the way. Mirkovic helped stitch the Illini down with an inside layup with 59 seconds left.
The Illini got through the frontcourt with Wagler attempting just three shots in the first half. Mirkovic, Jake Davis (8 points) and the Ivisic brothers Tomislav and Zvonimir combined to provide 12 of Illinois’ 14 field goals and 6 of 9 assists.
With one second left in the first half, Mirkovic’s counterattack put Illinois ahead 37-34.
In the game, Illinois held a 42-20 advantage in points in the paint.
–Field level media
