CHAMPAIGN, Illinois — A game after Maryland’s starting frontcourt had its worst performance of the season, Derik Queen and Julian Reese turned in perhaps their best.

The duo attacked a shorthanded Illinois frontcourt, combining for 52 points at State Farm Center on Thursday. The Terps left Champaign with a 91-70 win — and broke through in two categories that previously escaped them.

They earned their first true road win of the year and a marquee victory they previously lacked. Reese posted career-highs in points (27) and rebounds (17) and Queen added 25, six rebounds and four assists.

Maryland (15-5, 5-4 Big Ten) lost its first four road games and its only quad one win before Thursday came against Ohio State, who’s on the fringe of dropping to a quad two opponent.

“We’ve knocked on the door all four of our road games. I think the biggest thing is just [we couldn’t] break it through,” coach Kevin Willard said. “Guys have been really working hard, really playing well on the road, we just haven’t been able to get a W.”

The Terps’ victory also continued a surprising trend against Illinois — the Illini have the most Big Ten wins since the 2019-20 season, but the Terps have won seven of their nine contests against them in that span.

[No. 8 Maryland women’s basketball’s second half woes lead to 74-66 loss to No. 12 Ohio State]

The Illini were without 7-foot-1 center Tomislav Ivisic, their second-leading scorer and top rebounder. Freshman Morez Johnson made his first career start in Ivisic’s spot, and Illinois lacked depth behind him.

Queen said Maryland was going to attack the paint regardless of Ivisic’s status — but the 7-foot-1 void inside certainly helped him and Reese.

“I like the fact that [Queen and Reese] knew Illinois is small. … we wanted to make sure that we just pounded inside,” Willard said. “I give the guards a lot of credit, because they stuck with the game plan all night.”

The Terps only took 12 3-pointers, their second-lowest total of the season, because of the mismatch inside.

Queen and Reese scored 13 and 14, respectively, in the first half while Johnson picked up two fouls. Ivisic’s injury and Johnson’s foul trouble forced Illinois to turn to third-string big Carey Booth — who’s listed at 215 pounds and averaged five minutes entering the day.

Illinois, desperate for an answer, even put 6-foot-6 wing Jake Davis on Queen for multiple possessions.

All but one of Maryland’s 18 first-half field goals were in the paint, and it led for more than 17 of the first 20 minutes. The Terps’ led by 10 with three minutes left, but Illinois ended the half on an 11-4 run to make it 38-35 at the break.

[Maryland men’s basketball holds on late to defeat Nebraska, 69-66]

Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis, a projected top-10 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, only scored five points and shot 1-for-6 in the first half.

An 8-0 Maryland run gave the Terps a 52-41 lead, their then-largest of the game, before Illinois responded with one of its own. Jakucionis was crucial to Illinois’ comeback efforts — helping cut its deficit to three with 12 minutes remaining — and finished with 21 points, but it came on 5-for-14 shooting and seven turnovers.

“He’s a talented player, I mean he’s really good. I thought [Ja’Kobi Gillespie] and everyone switching off on him, I thought the switches were really effective,” Willard said.

Willard thought Gillespie, who he said has been his most reliable player, took the matchup with Jakucionis to heart. The junior guard scored 15 points with eight assists, three steals and only one turnover.

Still, the main factor for Maryland — which gave Illinois its largest home loss since Feb. 11, 2018 — was its frontcourt tandem.

“A lot of people that we don’t care about, or like other coaches, just say, ‘How can we play together?’ because we allegedly both can’t shoot,” Queen said. “But today we combine for 52 points and play really well together, and we’re just gonna keep building off that.”

Willard has struggled away from home at Maryland, with a 5-20 road conference record. Athletic director Damon Evans publicly acknowledged it Thursday, and seems tired of hearing Willard make excuses for it.

The coach quelled those concerns, at least for now, after Thursday’s performance.

“I feel like this is a step in the right direction,” Reese said. “Better to get [a road win] late than never, just taking care of business here and trying to build.”