Tuesday, March 18th, 9:30 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Williams Arena (14,625) -- Minneapolis, Minnesota. Television: ESPN. NIT Record: Maryland 10-5, Minnesota 18-10. Series Record: Maryland leads, 3-0.

GAME NOTES: The ACC meets the Big Ten in an NIT first round matchup, as the Maryland Terrapins clash with the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Williams Arena. The winner of this bout will move on to face either Syracuse or Robert Morris in the next round. Maryland, the fifth seed, is making its 15th straight appearance in the postseason and its seventh all-time in the NIT. The Terps, who head into the tourney riding a three-game losing streak, are 10-5 in this event, including a title back in 1972. As for Minnesota, it won 20 games for the first time since the 2004-05 campaign, but that wasn't good enough for it to reach the "Big Dance." Instead, the fourth-seeded Gophers had to settle for the NIT, where they have gone 18-10 in 10 prior appearances. Minnesota and Maryland have hooked up three times previously on the hardwood, with the Terps winning each of those encounters. The programs last met in 2005, when Maryland claimed an 83-66 victory over the Gophers as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

The Terps are averaging 73.2 ppg on the season and they are shooting 46.3 percent from the field, while holding opposing clubs to just a 39.4 percent showing from the floor. Greivis Vasquez is as well rounded of a player as their is and he leads Maryland in scoring (17.3 ppg) and assists (6.9 rpg), to go with 5.7 rpg. James Gist gives the Terps another solid option and he turns in 15.8 ppg and a team-best 7.8 rpg. Bambale Osby has helped control the paint with Gist, as he contributes 11.2 ppg and 6.5 rpg. Eric Hayes rounds out the double-figure scorers at 10.3 ppg and he has displayed his unselfishness by distributing 4.4 apg. He is also dangerous from beyond the arc, knocking down 40.3 percent of his attempts.

The Gophers had done a solid job on defense this season, as they are not only limiting their foes to just 63.1 ppg, but also forcing them into 16.5 turnovers per contest. Offensively, Minnesota is shooting 44.1 percent from the field and 37.2 percent from three-point range for an average of 68.6 ppg. Lawrence McKenzie currently tops the roster in scoring at 12.2 ppg and he is dangerous from three-point land, hitting at a 42.9 percent clip. Dan Coleman is the team's leading rebounder at 11.9 ppg and he also ranks second in scoring with 11.9 ppg. Spencer Tollackson chips in with 9.4 rpg for the Gophers.

Minnesota has the advantage of hosting this game and that, along with a sound defensive effort, should help it come out on top.

Predicted Outcome

Minnesota 73, Maryland 66