Northwestern @ Maryland preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 21, 2020 ) Maryland 77, Northwestern 66

Seventh-ranked Maryland looks to stay on course to secure its first Big Ten regular-season title since joining the conference in 2014 when it hosts Northwestern on Tuesday. The Terrapins have won eight consecutive games, including an impressive 67-60 road victory over 25th-ranked Michigan State, to remain at the top of the Big Ten standings, and they hope to improve to 15-0 at home for the first time since winning 17 straight during the 1979-80 season.

“I still don’t have a ring,” Maryland guard Anthony Cowan Jr. told reporters. “My teammates still don’t have a ring but it was a good road win though.” Northwestern is left to go back to the drawing board following a 77-61 loss to No. 9 Penn State on Saturday. The Wildcats have dropped nine consecutive games, including four on the road by an average margin of 10.5 points during their slide, and they hope to stop the bleeding by recording their first road win since beating Boston College 82-64 on Dec. 3. “The heartaches and the losing is tough enough,” Northwestern coach Chris Collins told reporters. “We’re playing a lot of young kids and we need to learn physicality and learn how to finish late in the game.”

TIME: 8 p.m ET. TV: Big Ten Network

ABOUT NORTHWESTERN (6-18, 1-13 Big Ten): Boo Buie scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half, but the Wildcats were undone by a 2-of-14 shooting performance from 3-point range in the loss to Penn State. Pete Nance broke out of his scoring slump as he tallied 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the floor and grabbed seven rebounds to finish in double figures for the first time since Jan. 21. Pat Spencer had 11 points while Miller Kopp registered 10 points and four assists to notch his 13th double-digit scoring game in his last 14 outings.

ABOUT MARYLAND (21-4, 11-3): Cowan knocked down five 3-pointers en route to 24 points, including the final 11 of the game, to help the Terrapins rally from a seven-point deficit with 3 1/2 minutes left in the win over Michigan State. Jalen Smith added 17 points and 10 rebounds against the Spartans to register his eighth straight double-double while Eric Ayala and Donta Scott each finished with nine points each. “We gutted it out because this team fights,” Maryland coach Mark Turgeon told reporters. “Michigan State is the class of the league and they have been for a long time so whenever you can get that win it means a lot.”

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Maryland has won 22 of its last 23 home games dating back to last season.

2. Northwestern is 7-of-35 from 3-point range over its last two games.

3. Smith is ranked fifth nationally in double-doubles (16).

PREDICTION: Maryland 79, Northwestern 67