Maryland @ Harvard preview

Eighth-ranked Maryland is through to the semifinals of the Orlando Invitational, where it will play Harvard on Friday, on the back of Anthony Cowan. The senior exploded for a career-high 30 points to send the Terrapins past previously unbeaten Temple in Thursday's opening round and into a matchup with the Crimson for the right to play for the championship game.

Cowan, who came in averaging 13 points, scored 20 of his 30 points in the second half - including seven in the first two minutes - as Maryland erased a five-point halftime deficit. The 6-foot guard from Bowie, Md., inched closer to 1,500 career points as the career high, which tops his previous best of 27 points that he accomplished twice, got him to 1,470 points and past Derrick Lewis (1984-88) into 18th place in school history. Cowan got the 30 points on the back of 11 made field goals - also a career best, topping his previous high of 10 baskets - and also had four assists, giving him 464 for his career and moving him to ninth place in school history. The Crimson survived their matchup with Texas A&M by going 22-of-22 from the foul line in a game that otherwise featured poor shooting throughout.

TV: 11:30 a.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT MARYLAND (6-0): Jalen Smith entered the Orlando Invitational, which is being played at HP Field House on the Disney campus, with four games in double figures and three double-doubles, and the sophomore just missed a fourth against Temple. The forward from Baltimore, who was averaging 14.4 points and 9.4 rebounds, put up 12 points and nine boards and also added three assists, three blocks and two steals. The Terrapins, who received 13 points off the bench from sophomore Eric Ayala,, turned the ball over 14 times - slightly above their season average entering the game of 11.2.

ABOUT HARVARD (5-2): The Crimson, who are in search of their fourth regular-season tournament championship under coach Tommy Amaker, received all 22 made free throws from five players. Senior Bryce Aiken, who was playing in his third game this season because of a calf injury, overcame poor shooting from the field to score 14 points - 11 below his seasonal average. Chris Lewis, Noah Kirkwood and Justin Bassey, who had a team-high 16 points, made four free throws apiece for Harvard, which entered Thursday 12th in the nation in blocks per game and had two against the Aggies.

TIP-INS

1. Maryland's streak of five straight double-digit wins to start the season, its most since 1998-99, came to a halt.

2. The Terrapins improved to 11-1 in their last 12 neutral-site regular-season tournament games and are 119-52 all-time in such contests.

3. Cowan is one of three players in Maryland history (Greivis Vasquez, John Lucas) with 1,400 points and 450 assists, and one of two active major conference players along with Michigan State's Cassius Winston with 1,400 points and 460 assists.

PREDICTION: Maryland 77, Harvard 71