Illinois Basketball: 3 observations from the Illini loss to Maryland part 2

The Illinois basketball team gave us hope on Friday night, only to let us down and fall for the second time against Maryland.

This game started off well. Both teams went back and forth to begin the game. With the game tied at 7-7, Illinois managed to go on a run. They played good team basketball during this stretch. That 7-7 tie quickly turned into a 17-7 lead for the Orange and Blue.

Illinois continued to increase their lead as time went on. With 9:29 left in the first half, the Illini had increased their lead to 31-17. This was looking like it was going to be a great game and a monumental win for this program. But that is when everything went off the rails.

Maryland would go on a tear. They managed to get it back to a seven-point deficit with less than five minutes to go in the first half. The Terrapins continued to push and, by halftime, the scoreboard read 42-40 in favor of the Illini.

The second half started like the first half ended. Maryland tied the game up at the 16:50 mark at 44-44. They then took the lead 46-44 less than 30 seconds later. Illinois waved goodbye to the lead and would never see it again after that point.

While we did get the score back to a one-point deficit at 53-52, the Terrapins would quickly extend the lead again. They hit their first double-digit lead with 4:44 left in the game. Illinois showed little fight down the stretch and we fell to Maryland 75-66.

Here are three observations from the Illini loss to Maryland part 2.