Bucknell (4-3) vs. Maryland (5-1)
When: Nov. 27, 2024 | 4:30 PM | Xfinity Center
TV: BTN | Jason Horowitz (pxp), Myles Dread (analyst)
Radio: One Maryland App | Â 105.7 FM (Baltimore) | Â 980 AM (DC) | Â SiriusXM channel 372
Betting: Maryland -23.5 | O/U: 139.5 (FanDuel)
Maryland men’s basketball is back in action as Wednesday marks the first matchup between the two teams since 2017 as Maryland leads the all-time series, 8-0. Wednesday’s home game is also part of the Saatva Empire Classic while Maryland will look to win its 20th consecutive home game against unranked non-conference opponents.
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Bucknell’s lone test against a high major team came back on Nov. 9 in Lexington when the Bison fell, 100-72, against 23rd-ranked Kentucky while they’re less than one week removed from a win over NJIT, led by former Maryland assistant Grant Billmeier. Bucknell is fresh off a four-point home loss vs. Rider, dropping its third game of the season, but they’ll have veteran scorers looking to make noise in College Park.
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Bucknell enters Wednesday with the second-highest scoring offense (76.4) and second-worst scoring defense (76) in the Patriot League. A big part for their success on the offensive end of the court is because of Latvian big Noah Williamson as he leads the way as one of three averaging double-figures, entering Wednesday posting 16.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks this season.
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One season after being named one of the Patriot League’s most improved players, senior guard Josh Bascoe (14.9) has scored at least 15 points in five consecutive games along with averaging 3.4 assists. Senior captain Ian Motta, who is averaging 11.8 points per game, missed his first career game after being sidelined due to injury in the double overtime win vs. Mount St. Mary’s. Bucknell is expected to round out its starting five with Virginia native Elvin Edmonds IV and Ruot Bijiek, giving the Bison five upperclassmen in their starting five.
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Maryland, meanwhile, will look to pick up its fifth Quad Four win in as many tries in one of two final tune-ups before kicking off Big Ten play. Maryland enters Wednesday with a +27.2 scoring margin, which ranks 15th nationally, sparked by the tenth-best scoring defense nationally (57.3).
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Derik Queen is coming off his first Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor after scoring 18 of his 22 points in the second-half comeback win vs. Villanova, weeks after becoming the first freshman since Michael Beasley in 2007 to post a 20-20 game in his college debut. Ja'Kobi Gillespie will also look to stay hot as the lone Terp to score in double figures in every game this season, including a season-high 24 points vs. Marquette.
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Rodney Rice, meanwhile, is expected to draw his third consecutive start as he leads the team in made three-point shots (15), shooting 42.9% from deep. While Selton Miguel looks to find his groove after scoring double figures in three of his first seven games of the program, Maryland fans saw its frontcourt lead the way in Sunday’s win as Julian Reese sits 15th nationally in offensive rebounds per game (3.83). Reese also ranks 54th all-time in career points and sits two points away from passing Darryl Morsell for 53rd, six points away from Gary Ward for 52nd and 15 points from Sean Mosley for 51st-most points in program history.
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