The Maryland men's basketball team played one of its best games of the season as it knocked off the No. 17 Illinois Fighting Illini, 81-65, on Friday night inside the XFINITY Center.

The Terps (10-9, 2-6) played inspired basketball led by Donta Scott, who came off the bench to score a career-high 25 points as he made 9-of-12 from the field. Fatts Russell scored 15 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.

Big man Qudus Wahab had his best game in a while with 11 points and four rebounds and help Maryland control the post, along with Scott. The Terps outscored the Illini, 40-16, in the paint as Illinois (13-5, 6-2) was without its All-Big Ten center Kofi Cockburn, who missed the game while in concussion protocols.

Maryland had its best shooting game of the season, recording a 52.8 percent mark from the field, making 28-of-53. The Terps had not shot better than 50 percent in a game all season.

The Terps took the lead for good with a 7-0 spurt late in the second half. A Scott three-point play with 6:01 left gave the Terps a 66-60 advantage and they led the rest of the way. Maryland scored the final 11 points of the game.

The Terrapins are now 4-0 all-time at home against Illinois as Big Ten Conference foes (since 2014-15). Maryland has won eight of its last 10 meetings overall against the Illini.

It was Maryland's second win over a ranked team this season, the Terps beat then-No. 20 Florida in Brooklyn in December.