Preview: Maryland Terrapins at No. -- Illinois Fighting Illini

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Interstat) — A surging Illinois team riding a seven-game winning streak hosts a struggling Maryland squad coming off just its second win in nine games when the Big Ten rivals meet Wednesday night at State Farm Center.

The Fighting Illini (15-3, 5-0 Big Ten) have established themselves as a conference contender, boasting a perfect league record anchored by a formidable defense. A key catalyst has been 7-foot-2 center Zvonimir Ivisic, who is coming off a dominant performance of 18 points, nine rebounds and three blocks in just 18 minutes in Saturday’s 77-67 win over Minnesota. Ivisic has recorded multiple blocks in five of the last six games, altering the interior landscape for opponents.

Illinois’s balanced attack also features consistent contributors in guard Keaton Wagler and forward David Mirkovic, who combined for 29 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists against the Golden Gophers.

They face a Maryland team (7-10, 1-5) that found a rare offensive explosion in a 96-73 rout of Penn State last Sunday, snapping a five-game skid. The Terrapins’ hopes rest heavily on the hot hand of guard David Coit, who erupted for a career-high 43 points on 15-of-22 shooting, including 8 of 13 from 3-point range, in that victory.

Coit’s scoring has been volatile, however. Prior to the 43-point outburst, he was held to single digits in two of the previous four games. Maryland is 1-9 when allowing more than 70 points this season, a threshold Illinois has reached in 16 of 18 games.

The Illini have won the last three meetings in the series, including an 80-67 victory in Champaign last season. Illinois’s defense, ranked among the nation’s best in efficiency, will aim to cool down Coit and force Maryland’s supporting cast to beat them. The Terrapins, who are 0-5 in true road games, must contend with one of the most hostile environments in the conference.

Wednesday’s contest is the only scheduled meeting between the teams this regular season. Illinois looks to maintain its share of first place in the Big Ten, while Maryland seeks to build momentum from its weekend win and climb out of the league’s bottom tier.

Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. EST.