Here is the latest Big Ten Conference sports news from The Associated Press

By WJBD Staff Jan 22, 2022 | 7:06 AM

UNDATED (AP) — There’s at least one major difference in the way pandemic-related postponements have impacted college basketball schedules over the last two seasons. Teams and conferences knew this was coming last season and prepared beforehand. The postponements this season have caught the sport a little more by surprise. Then the omicron variant arrived, more players started testing positive, the postponements began and conferences had to start adapting their schedules.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Donta Scott scored a career-high 25 points and Maryland took advantage of Kofi Cockburn’s absence in an 81-65 victory over No. 17 Illinois. Cockburn was out with a concussion, and the Illini lost for the second consecutive game after winning six straight. It was a much-needed victory for Maryland, which has struggled all season and already went through a coaching change when Mark Turgeon exited in early December. Alfonso Plummer scored 18 points for Illinois, which was coming off a double-overtime loss to No. 4 Purdue on Monday night.