Maryland @ Wisconsin preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 14, 2019 ) Wisconsin 60, Maryland 64

Maryland was good enough for just long enough to send Wisconsin to what could have been a demoralizing loss in the teams' first meeting this season, but the No. 23 Badgers' impressive resilience has them near the top of the Big Ten standings. Wisconsin tries for its fifth straight victory since the setback when it hosts the No. 24 Terrapins on Friday.

The Badgers trailed by as many as 21 points early in the second half and by 18 with about 10 1/2 minutes remaining before embarking on a 27-8 run over the next 8 1/2 minutes to take the lead. Maryland answered with the go-ahead 3-pointer with 44 seconds left - one of only five field goals it converted in the second half - and added two free throws down the stretch to hold off Wisconsin in a 64-60 victory. The Badgers have rebounded with perhaps their best stretch of the season, beating each of their four opponents by double figures while holding them to an average of 52.8 points. The Terrapins, who are halfway through what figures to be the most challenging eight-game stretch of their season that features only two home contests, improved to 2-2 since edging Wisconsin following Tuesday's 70-52 victory against Northwestern to snap a two-game slide.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

ABOUT MARYLAND (17-5, 8-3 Big Ten): With Anthony Cowan Jr. (17.0 points, 4.5 assists) limited to eight points over 19 foul-plagued minutes, the Terrapins leaned heavily on forwards Bruno Fernando (14.9 points, 10.3 rebounds) and Jalen Smith (11.9, 7.0) against Northwestern as the pair combined for 36 points and 19 rebounds. Fernando has posted four consecutive double-doubles after producing 22 points and 10 boards Tuesday as the 6-10 sophomore ranks second in the conference in rebounding as well as blocks (2.0) and is tied for fifth nationally with 13 double-doubles. Cowan is averaging 17.5 points during conference action but is in the midst of a five-game stretch in which he is shooting 34.6 percent from the field.

ABOUT WISCONSIN (15-6, 7-3): Little-used senior forward Charles Thomas IV stepped up in Tuesday's 62-51 win at Nebraska, finishing with five points, three rebounds and a block in only six minutes while potential Big Ten Player of the Year Ethan Happ spent much of the early part of the second half on the bench. "I thought (Thomas) gave us a boost … Ethan looked a little fatigued and (his) decision-making wasn't great at times. Charlie was able to extend some possessions. … He was our answer and he gave us a big boost," coach Greg Gard told reporters. During Big Ten play, Happ (18.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists) ranks third in assists (5.2), tied for fourth in rebounding (8.8) and eighth in scoring (17.1 points).

TIP-INS

1. Wisconsin has made seven or fewer free throws in four of its last five games - a stretch that began when it was outscored 24-3 at the stripe against Maryland.

2. The Terrapins rank third in the country with a plus-10.3 rebound margin.

3. The Badgers are fifth in Division I in defensive efficiency (according to KenPom) and average 9.8 turnovers - the sixth-best mark in the country.

PREDICTION: Wisconsin 61, Maryland 56