7:30 p.m. at No. 24 Maryland • Xfinity Center • BTN (1500-AM)
Trimble, Terps will be a tough test
Preview: The Gophers (20-7, 8-6) are tied with Big Ten leader Purdue for the longest winning streak in the conference at five games. Their last loss came Jan. 28 against Maryland, 85-78 at home. It was their fifth straight loss. Maryland shot 51 percent from the field in that game. But Minnesota's past five opponents have shot a combined 40.5 percent from the field. The No. 24-ranked Terrapins (22-5, 10-4) have lost three of their past five games, including a 71-60 loss Sunday at Wisconsin. Junior center Michal Cekovsky is out for the season after suffering a fractured left ankle against the Badgers.
Players to watch: Gophers sophomore Jordan Murphy is averaging 18 points, 15 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and shooting 62 percent from the field in his past four games. The 6-foot-6 forward has four straight double-doubles and nine total this season. Maryland junior guard Melo Trimble was named Big Ten player of the week Monday after averaging 29.5 points on 62 percent shooting against Northwestern and Wisconsin last week. The highlight was a career-high 32 points in a win against the Wildcats.
Numbers: The Gophers are on their first five-game win streak in the Big Ten regular season since winning 12 straight in 1996-97. Excluding vacated games, it's the program's longest conference run since seven victories in a row in 1977-78.
MARCUS FULLER
