Maryland @ Ohio St. preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 11, 2017 ) Ohio St. 77, Maryland 86

Ohio State validated its surprising start to the Big Ten season last time out with talented junior Keita Bates-Diop leading the way again, and looks to avoid a letdown when Maryland pays a visit Thursday night. Bates-Diop poured in 32 points and was named the Big Ten Player of the Week for the second time this season as the Buckeyes pulled away from then-No. 1 Michigan State for an 80-64 victory Sunday at home.

“We all knew we could do it, and that’s where it started,” Ohio State senior forward Jae’Sean Tate told reporters of the Buckeyes, who have won all four of their Big Ten games by an average of 15.3 points. “You can’t (play) a team like Michigan State and not believe it’s possible to win.” Ohio State, which missed the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons and Chris Holtmann replaced Thad Matta as coach last summer, won eight of its last nine and Maryland has matched them after rolling over Iowa 91-73 on Sunday. The Terrapins’ only loss in their run was by 30 points at Michigan State on Thursday, but they had a positive response. “It was tough to lose by 30. It was embarrassing,” Maryland center Bruno Fernando, who was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday, told the Washington Post. “But it doesn’t stop us from thinking we’re a great team.”

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT MARYLAND (14-4, 3-2 Big Ten): Fernando poured in a season-high 21 points against Iowa and is making good use of more playing time since leading rebounder Justin Jackson (8.1) was lost for the season with a shoulder injury. Sophomore guard Anthony Cowan was limited to 4-of-11 shooting Sunday against Iowa, but matched a season high with seven assists and is averaging 21.2 points in five Big Ten games. Cowan leads the team in scoring (16.2) - with fellow sophomore guard Kevin Huerter next at 14.1, assists (4.6) and steals (1.4) while shooting 87 percent from the free-throw line.

ABOUT OHIO STATE (13-4, 4-0): Bates-Diop is averaging 26 points over his last four outings to push his season mark to 20.0 and tops the team in rebounding (8.8) while shooting 52.5 percent from the field. Tate is averaging 16.8 points in five career games against Maryland and ranks third on the team in scoring (12.9) behind junior guard C.J. Jackson (13.5, team-high 4.2 assists), who is 17-for-30 from the field the last three games. Freshman forward Kaleb Wesson (11.5) is one of five regulars shooting at least 50 percent from the field at 54.6, trailing only Tate (57.2) and senior guard Andrew Dakich (66.7).

TIP-INS

1. Maryland junior G Dion Wiley, who is averaging 5.8 points with 23 makes from 3-point range, suffered a concussion against Iowa and is not expected to play Thursday.

2. Ohio State senior G Kam Williams has drained 8-of-11 from 3-point range in the last three games and shoots 46.3 percent from beyond the arc overall.

3. Maryland leads the series 6-5, including a pair of victories last season by a combined 15 points.

PREDICTION: Ohio State 76, Maryland 66