Maniscalco Leads Illini to Comeback Victory Over Terrapins

When fifth-year senior point guard Sam Maniscalco announced he was transferring to Illinois from Bradley for his final season, most fans figured he would add some toughness and leadership to a young team starving for those qualities. Not many could have predicted the profound impact he’s had on the Illini so far. Maniscalco scored 24 points to help lead the Illini to a 71-62 road victory over the Maryland Terrapins on Day One of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Maniscalco scored 15 of his 24 points in the second half, including several big three-pointers and four free throws to seal the deal at the end. The Illini shook off a rough start and a hot shooting night from Terrapins guard Terrell Stoglin (25 points) to move to 7-0. The win was coach Bruce Weber’s 200th at Illinois. Illinois fell behind early as they struggled to connect from the outside. For the game, the Illini shot just 7-23 (30.4%) from deep. Maniscalco and junior guard Brandon Paul (17 points) helped keep Illino...