Fairfield @ Maryland preview

Fairfield at Maryland

Last Meeting ( Nov 17, 2009 ) Fairfield 42, Maryland 71

No. 7 Maryland looks to remain unbeaten when it hosts Fairfield on Tuesday. The Terrapins cruised past Oakland 80-50 on Saturday to improve to 3-0 for the sixth consecutive season, and can post their fourth straight double-digit victory of the season by beating the Stags for the second time in program history.

"We know if we get better everyday then the sky's the limit for us," Maryland guard Darryl Morsell told reporters. "We know we're talented, but it's just about execution and coming ready to play every single day." Maryland is 48-6 in non-conference home games over the last six seasons and hopes to extend its winning streak against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opponents to five games. The Terrapins are averaging 43 rebounds per game to go along with 6.3 blocks, and look to put the defensive clamps on a Fairfield squad which has been limited to 67 points a game. The Stags have dropped three of their first four games of the season, including an 84-75 overtime loss to Loyola-Maryland on Sunday, and hope to get back on track by knocking off a Power 5 team for the first time since Dec. 21, 2016.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

ABOUT FAIRFIELD (1-3): Jesus Cruz recorded 17 points, five rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals, but it wasn't enough as the Stags were outscored 16-7 in overtime. Landon Taliaferro also scored 17 points while Vincent Eze aded 15 and three steals for Fairfield, which couldn't hold a 12-point lead in the final 14 minutes of regulation. "We're not going to win many games when we allow a team to shoot 68 percent in the second half," Fairfield coach Jay Young told reporters. "We did not execute defensively and when you add in our 21 turnovers, that didn't help our cause either."

ABOUT MARYLAND (3-0): Morsell led the way with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field and grabbed seven rebounds in 21 minutes of action against Oakland. Anthony Cowan added 11 points, seven assists and six rebounds while Aaron Wiggins finished with 10 points as the Terrapins held the Golden Grizzlies to 36.5 percent shooting from the floor. Jalen Smith continued his stellar start to the season as he produced eight points, seven rebounds, three blocked shots and three steals to narrowly miss out on his third consecutive double-double.

TIP-INS

1. Maryland has won 33 of its last 39 home games.

2. Smith is averaging 9.7 rebounds per game.

3. Fairfield has lost its last eight games to Big Ten opponents by an average margin of 21 points.

PREDICTION: Maryland 87, Fairfield 60