Maryland Defeats Illinois

The Streak remains intact, while the loss to Arizona is quickly becoming a distant memory.

Juan Dixon scored 25 points and No. 5 Maryland built a 20-point lead and held off No. 2 Illinois, 76-63, Tuesday night at College Park, Md.

It was the 80th consecutive non-conference home victory for Maryland, the longest in the nation. It was also the Terrapins’ fourth consecutive victory overall after a season-opening loss to Arizona.

“This is good for us to get this big game early in the year. It let people know that we’re for real,” Dixon said.

“I guess a lot of people counted us out after we lost to Arizona, but we did well today.”

After the Terrapins (4-1) went up by 12 at halftime, Dixon scored seven points in a 10-2 run at the outset of the second half to make it 51-31.

Illinois (5-1) fought back--even after leading rebounder Brian Cook fouled out with 5:11 left.

Illinois closed to 66-58 with 2:56 left, but Chris Wilcox scored in the lane, then made one of two free throws on Maryland’s next possession for an 11-point cushion.

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No. 12 Syracuse 70, Colgate 51--Kueth Duany scored 17 points and Preston Shumpert added 14 as Syracuse blocked 16 shots at Syracuse, N.Y.

Syracuse (6-0) defeated Colgate (2-2) for the 36th consecutive time, and the Orangemen had to do it without their leading scorer. Guard DeShaun Williams sat at the end of the bench in sweats.

Williams is serving a three-game suspension for violating the university’s conduct code.

Creighton 94, No. 17 Western Kentucky 91, 2OT--DeAnthony Bowden made a three-point basket with 41 seconds left in the second overtime as Creighton (2-0) won at Omaha, Neb.

Derek Robinson missed a three-pointer for Western Kentucky (4-1) and the rebound trickled out of bounds as time expired.

No. 25 Wake Forest 85, Minnesota 79--Broderick Hicks made a go-ahead three-pointer with 58 seconds left as Wake Forest (5-1) rallied over the final minute at Winston-Salem, N.C.