Illinois Edges Maryland in Close Contest
Sunday, March 8, 2026, 3:00 PM ET · XFINITY Center
Illinois Fighting Illini 78, Maryland Terrapins 72, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Illinois Fighting Illini vs Maryland Terrapins?
Illinois Fighting Illini beat Maryland Terrapins 78-72 at XFINITY Center on March 8, 2026.
Who was favored in Illinois Fighting Illini vs Maryland Terrapins?
Illinois Fighting Illini were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -1650 (about 94% implied). The favorite won.
In a tightly contested matchup, the Illinois Fighting Illini defeated the Maryland Terrapins 78-72 at the XFINITY Center on March 8, 2026. This game was significant as it showcased the stark contrast in the teams' seasons, with Illinois boasting a strong record of 24-7 compared to Maryland's 11-20. The victory allowed Illinois to maintain momentum as they head into the postseason, while Maryland continues to struggle in their campaign.
Maryland entered the game with a recent record of 3-7 over their last ten games, currently on a three-game losing streak. Their scoring average during this stretch was 63.5 points per game, while they allowed an average of 73.4 points. In their last five games, Maryland averaged 61.8 points scored and 71.8 points allowed. Their home record stood at 2-3 in their last five home games, indicating challenges in securing wins at home.
On the other hand, Illinois had a more favorable recent form, with a record of 6-4 in their last ten games and a current winning streak of one game. They averaged 82.5 points scored and allowed 70.5 points during this span. In their last five games, Illinois averaged 83.2 points scored, showcasing their offensive strength. Their away record was 2-2 in this stretch, reflecting a balanced performance both at home and on the road.
The two teams had met three times in the previous two seasons, with Illinois leading the head-to-head record 2-1. In their last encounter on January 22, 2026, Illinois won decisively with a score of 89-70. The previous season saw Maryland win at home with a score of 88-65, while Illinois also secured a victory in another matchup with a score of 91-70.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any players missing from either team, suggesting both squads were at full strength for this important game. The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Illinois favored with a spread of 14.5 points, and the total points set at 145.5. Illinois had a moneyline of -1650, while Maryland's moneyline was at 950, indicating a strong expectation for an Illinois victory.
The game conditions were not detailed in the block, but the atmosphere at the XFINITY Center was likely charged, given the stakes for both teams. Viewers were treated to a competitive matchup, highlighted by key scoring plays in the second half that kept the game close. Andre Mills and Andrej Stojakovic were instrumental for Illinois, making crucial layups and free throws down the stretch to secure the win.
As the final buzzer sounded, Illinois emerged victorious, reinforcing their strong season and preparing them for the challenges ahead, while Maryland would need to regroup as they concluded their season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | ILL -14.5 | 145.5 o -108 / u -112 | Illinois Fighting Illini -1650 · Maryland Terrapins +950 |
Leaders
- PointsAndre Mills30Maryland Terrapins
- AssistsAndre Mills3Maryland Terrapins
- ReboundsSolomon Washington7Maryland Terrapins
- PointsDavid Mirkovic22Illinois Fighting Illini
- AssistsDavid Mirkovic3Illinois Fighting Illini
- ReboundsDavid Mirkovic11Illinois Fighting Illini
Recent form
Maryland Terrapins
Last 10: 3-7Streak L363.5 scored · 73.4 allowed per game2-3 at home
- L45-78at Wisconsin BadgersMar 5
- L65-69vs Rutgers Scarlet KnightsMar 1
- L61-74at Nebraska CornhuskersFeb 26
- W64-60vs Washington HuskiesFeb 21
- L74-78at Northwestern WildcatsFeb 19
- L57-68at Rutgers Scarlet KnightsFeb 15
- W77-70vs Iowa HawkeyesFeb 11
- W67-62at Minnesota Golden GophersFeb 8
- L62-82vs Ohio State BuckeyesFeb 6
- L63-93vs Purdue BoilermakersFeb 1
Illinois Fighting Illini
Last 10: 6-4Streak W182.5 scored · 70.5 allowed per game2-2 away
- W80-54vs Oregon DucksMar 4
- L70-84vs Michigan WolverinesFeb 28
- L94-95at UCLA BruinsFeb 22
- W101-65at USC TrojansFeb 19
- W71-51vs Indiana HoosiersFeb 15
- L90-92vs Wisconsin BadgersFeb 11
- L82-85at Michigan State SpartansFeb 8
- W84-44vs Northwestern WildcatsFeb 5
- W78-69at Nebraska CornhuskersFeb 1
- W75-66vs Washington HuskiesJan 30
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 37-3 | - | 19-1 |
| Nebraska | 28-7 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Michigan State | 27-8 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Illinois | 28-9 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Wisconsin | 24-11 | 5 | 14-6 |
| Purdue | 30-9 | 6 | 13-7 |
| UCLA | 24-12 | 6 | 13-7 |
| Ohio State | 21-13 | 7 | 12-8 |
| Iowa | 24-13 | 9 | 10-10 |
| Indiana | 18-14 | 10 | 9-11 |
| Minnesota | 15-18 | 11 | 8-12 |
| USC | 18-14 | 12 | 7-13 |
| Washington | 16-17 | 12 | 7-13 |
| Rutgers | 14-20 | 13 | 6-14 |
| Northwestern | 15-19 | 14 | 5-15 |
| Oregon | 12-20 | 14 | 5-15 |
| Maryland | 12-21 | 15 | 4-16 |
| Penn State | 12-20 | 16 | 3-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Illinois Fighting Illini | Maryland Terrapins |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 26-55 | 26-56 |
| Field goal % | 47 | 46 |
| Three-pointers | 5-24 | 9-30 |
| Three-point % | 21 | 30 |
| Free throws | 21-26 | 11-15 |
| Free throw % | 81 | 73 |
| Rebounds | 33 | 30 |
| Offensive rebounds | 12 | 11 |
| Defensive rebounds | 21 | 19 |
| Assists | 14 | 8 |
| Steals | 5 | 3 |
| Blocks | 3 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 7 | 8 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 1 |
| Points off turnovers | 14 | 11 |
| Fast-break points | 4 | 4 |
| Points in the paint | 42 | 20 |
| Fouls | 12 | 20 |
| Largest lead | 8 | 3 |
| Lead changes | 4 | 4 |
| Time in front | 62 | 14 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half48-42Kylan Boswell makes layup (David Mirkovic assists)
- 2nd Half48-45Darius Adams makes 23-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half50-45Andrej Stojakovic makes driving layup
- 2nd Half51-45David Mirkovic makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half51-48Darius Adams makes 23-foot three point jumper (Andre Mills assists)
- 2nd Half51-49Andre Mills makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-50Andre Mills makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half51-51Andre Mills makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-51Keaton Wagler makes layup
- 2nd Half53-53Andre Mills makes 17-foot pullup jump shot (Collin Metcalf assists)
- 2nd Half55-53Kylan Boswell makes layup (David Mirkovic assists)
- 2nd Half56-53David Mirkovic makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half57-53David Mirkovic makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-53Keaton Wagler makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-53Keaton Wagler makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half59-55Andre Mills makes driving layup
- 2nd Half59-56Andre Mills makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half59-58Isaiah Watts makes layup (Andre Mills assists)
- 2nd Half59-59Isaiah Watts makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half61-59David Mirkovic makes layup
- 2nd Half61-61Andre Mills makes 14-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half63-61Andrej Stojakovic makes driving layup
- 2nd Half63-62Isaiah Watts makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-62Ben Humrichous makes 23-foot three point jumper (Keaton Wagler assists)
- 2nd Half68-62David Mirkovic makes 2-foot jumper (Ben Humrichous assists)
- 2nd Half69-62Zvonimir Ivisic makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half70-62Zvonimir Ivisic makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-64Darius Adams makes 8-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half71-64Keaton Wagler makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-64Keaton Wagler makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-66Andre Mills makes 11-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half72-68Darius Adams makes layup
- 2nd Half72-70Andre Mills makes driving layup
- 2nd Half74-70David Mirkovic makes driving layup
- 2nd Half75-70Andrej Stojakovic makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half76-70Andrej Stojakovic makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half76-71Andre Mills makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half76-72Andre Mills makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half77-72Andrej Stojakovic makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half78-72Andrej Stojakovic makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Maryland Terrapins, below favours Illinois Fighting Illini.
Venue
- XFINITY CenterCollege Park, MD
- Attendance15674
- OfficialsBrian Dorsey, Paul Szelc, Owen Shortt
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