Thursday, March 20th, 7:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Carrier Dome (33,000) -- Syracuse, New York. Television: ESPNU. NIT Record: Maryland 11-5, Syracuse 13-12. Series Record: Maryland leads, 5-1.

GAME NOTES: A pair of teams with impressive postseason resumes meet up at the Carrier Dome this evening, as the fifth-seeded Maryland Terrapins and top- seeded Syracuse Orange take part in second-round action of the NIT. The Terps won the NCAA Tournament in 2002 and the Orange turned the trick a year later. This season, both teams were left out of the Big Dance and had to settle for NIT play. The Orange hosted a first-round matchup with Robert Morris on Tuesday and posted an 87-81 victory to pick up their 20th win of the season and move to 13-12 all-time in this event. The Terrapins were forced to play their first-round game on the road, traveling to Minneapolis to take on Minnesota. Maryland posted a 10-point win at Williams Arena (68-58) to move to 19-14 on the year and 11-5 in NIT play. The Terrapins have won five of the previous six meetings with the Orange, but Syracuse finally got a victory in the last meeting, a 72-70 decision in the 2004 NCAA Tournament. The winner of this game will move on to the quarterfinals, to take on either Akron or Massachusetts.

All-ACC guard Greivis Vasquez scored 16 points and pulled down six rebounds, leading the Terrapins to an impressive road win at Minnesota on Tuesday. Greivis was joined in double figures by Bambale Osby and James Gist, who finished with 14 and 11 points, respectively. The Terrapins shot under 40 percent from the floor in the game (.396), but held the hometown Gophers to a mere .313 effort. The more physical Terps outrebounded Minnesota 47-38 and outscored the Gophers 23-8 at the free-throw line. Greivis is the straw that stirs the drink for Maryland. The versatile sophomore has done it all this year, pacing the team in both scoring (17.2 ppg) and assist (6.8 apg), while also showing the ability to mix it up on the glass (5.7 rpg). Gist (15.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg) and Osby (11.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg) are a formidable pair in the paint, while guard Eric Hayes (10.0 ppg) adds scoring depth along the perimeter.

Freshman forward Donte' Greene converted 10-of-19 shots from the floor, including six three-pointers, pouring in a career-high 27 points and leading the Orange past Robert Morris in first-round action on Tuesday. The win gave Jim Boeheim his 30th career 20-win season, matching all-time leader Dean Smith. Sophomore forward Paul Harris put up 19 points, despite shooting just 3-of-11 from the floor. The guard did convert 12-of-16 attempts from the free- throw line and completed a double-double with 10 rebounds. Scoop Jardine came off the bench to add 15 points in support, while Kristof Ongenaet chipped in with 13. Defensively, the Orange forced 21 turnovers and outrebounded Robert Morris, 40-29. The Orange are a strong offensive team, averaging nearly 80 points per game (78.8). Greene has been outstanding in his first season in upstate New York, averaging 17.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg and amassing 55 blocks on the year. There is plenty of scoring depth behind Greene, with Jonny Flynn (15.5 ppg), Harris (14.6 ppg) and Arinze Onuaku (12.5 ppg) all showing the ability to fill up the basket. Harris paces the team on the boards, with 8.2 rpg.

The Terrapins are a physical team that likes to force its will on an opponent. The problem with that in this matchup, is that Syracuse has the personnel to counter. Greene, Harris and company will more than hold their own against Gist and Osby and behind the support of the hometown crowd, should be able to advance to next week's quarterfinals.

Predicted Outcome

Syracuse 77, Maryland 74