Catholic University of America @ Maryland preview

Maryland has often been its own worst enemy offensively this season, but it operated more like a well-oiled machine in its most recent victory. The Terrapins eye a fourth straight win Tuesday when they continue a six-game homestand against Division III opponent Catholic.

Averaging a Big Ten-worst 17.2 turnovers per game entering Saturday's visit from Gardner-Webb, Maryland committed only 11 in a mostly efficient 82-60 triumph over the Bulldogs. “Coach (Mark Turgeon) kind of got on us after our game Thursday (19 turnovers versus Ohio), just saying we’ve got to get a lot better this stretch coming. He laid out a couple of things, and turnovers were one of those things we’ve got to correct if we want to be the team we think we can," Terrapins guard Kevin Huerter said. The outing, which came two games after Maryland committed 25 miscues in an overtime victory at Illinois, marked only the third time in 12 games Maryland committed fewer than 12 turnovers. The Cardinals have yet to win consecutive games this season following a 17-9 campaign and are coming off a 76-70 home defeat Saturday against Stevens.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network Plus

ABOUT CATHOLIC (2-4): Three-time All-Landmark Conference selection Jay Howard (team-leading marks of 24.7 points and seven rebounds in 35 minutes per game) has scored at least 20 points in every game, collected at least six boards in each of his last five outings and played at least 39 minutes in three of his last four contests. Junior guard Andre Mitchell (13.2 points), who is Catholic's only other double-digit scorer, leads the team in steals (2.3) and handed out a career-high nine assists Saturday. Since totaling five points in 35 minutes of action over his first three games, junior forward Jimmy Golaszewski (9.6 points) is 11-for-16 beyond the arc and averaging 18 points in 35.3 minutes per game over his last three outings.

ABOUT MARYLAND (9-3): The Terrapins played Saturday without freshman center Bruno Fernando (ankle) and sophomore forward Justin Jackson (illness); while Jackson (9.8 points, 8.1 rebounds) is likely to recover in time for Tuesday, Fernando (10.2 points, 5.6 boards, 2.1 blocks) is not expected back until at least Dec. 21 against Fairleigh Dickinson. Their absences allowed forward Joshua Tomaic to finish with career highs of nine points and six rebounds against Gardner-Webb in 16 minutes - one fewer minute than he’d played in the team’s first 11 games combined. Junior forward Ivan Bender also took advantage of his increase in playing time, tallying four points, five rebounds, a career-high seven assists, one block and one steal in a season-high 17 minutes.

TIP-INS

1. Saturday marked the first time all season at least one Terrapin didn't commit at least three turnovers.

2. Maryland has shot 44 percent or better beyond the arc in four of its last six contests.

3. Terrapins senior C Michal Cekovsky has made at least half of his field-goal attempts in every game in which he has taken at least one field-goal attempt and is shooting 75 percent from the floor this season.

PREDICTION: Maryland 92, Catholic 55