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Second round: SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Obinna Ekezie, scoreless until the final six minutes of the game, hit a game-tying jumper and six free throws down the stretch as Maryland held off Illinois 67-61 Saturday in the second round of the NCAA West Regional.
Vowing to pound the ball inside, Maryland instead turned to the outside
shooting of Sarunas Jasikevicius, who scored
20 points, and Rodney Elliott, who added 16,
to overcome Illinois' muscular play.
First round: Slapping the floor to build defensive intensity and slapping away passes all over the court, Illinois used 12 steals and
tenacious inside defense to defeat South Alabama 64-51 in the West Regional.
Kevin Turner had 18 points and Matt Heldman added 15 as the Fighting Illini
(23-9) forced 19 turnovers Thursday in a win that sent Illinois to a
second-round game against Maryland.
Toby Madison had 19 points to lead South Alabama (21-7) and Rico Alderson added 13 points.
Did you know: The conference title was Illinois' first since 1984. Also, Kruger has commitments from two of the state's best players who are only
juniors -- 6-foot-10 center Brian Cook from Lincoln, Ill. And 6-1 guard Jerrance
Howard from Peoria.
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