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Maryland vs. Penn State: 2018-19 College basketball game preview, TV schedule

By Anthony Brown

IOWA CITY, IOWA- FEBRUARY 19: Forward Bruno Fernando #23 hugs head coach Mark Turgeon of the Maryland Terrapins after the win over the Iowa Hawkeyes on February 19, 2019 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- FEBRUARY 19: Forward Bruno Fernando #23 hugs head coach Mark Turgeon of the Maryland Terrapins after the win over the Iowa Hawkeyes on February 19, 2019 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /
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Both No. 17 Maryland basketball (21-7, 12-5 Big Ten) and Penn State basketball (11-16, 4-12 Big Ten) have won two straight games heading into this late-season matchup.

TV Schedule: Wednesday, February 27 at 6:30 pm ET on Big Ten Network

Location: Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, PA

Maryland basketball is facing a trap game tonight with Penn State basketball. The Terps need to win this game on the road to keep their hopes of a double bye in the Big Ten Tournament alive. In the Big Ten, the Terps are in the top five in these categories: fifth in field goal percentage (43 percent), fourth in three-point percentage defense (30 percent), third in scoring defense (63.5 PPG), second in field goal percentage defense (38 percent) and first in three-point field goal percentage (38 percent).

Their leading scorers are Anthony Cowan Jr. ( 16 PPG, 4.6 APG, 3.8 RPG), Bruno Fernando (14.4 PPG, 10.6 RPG) and Jalen Smith (11.6 PPG, 6.6 RPG).

In their 72-62 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes, Cowan Jr. and Bruno Fernando did what they do best: put up points, assist and rebound. The Terps got solid production out of Serell Smith Jr. who scored 14 points in 19 minutes on the floor.

For Penn State basketball, the Nittany Lions are led by Lamar Stevens (19.7 PPG, eight RPG), Rasir Bolton (12.5 PPG, two RPG) and Josh Reaves (10.1 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.1 APG)  In Saturday’s win against Illinois, Stevens scored 25 points on 8-of-12 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds. Reaves recorded 14 points and six rebounds and Mike Watkins notched a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

The Nittany Lions will be looking for revenge at home against the Terps since they took the first meeting in December, 66-59. Stevens and Reaves combined for 36 points and 15 rebounds while three Terps starters reached double figures in scoring and Fernando had a double-double (12 points and 13 rebounds).

I will be interested to see how the frontcourt matchup plays out. Both front courts are very talented and have played very well as of late. Who will be the better guard? Cowan Jr. or Reaves in round two? The Terps outrebounded the Nittany Lions in that win so that will be another key to success on the road.

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Maryland basketball needs to do the same things it did to beat the Nittany Lions before. The home team will come out aggressively looking to send a message.

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