COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The Maryland men's basketball team has punched its ticket to a second consecutive NCAA Tournament, earning the No. 5 seed in the South Region. The Terps will face No. 12 seed South Dakota State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 18 at Spokane Arena in Spokane, Wash. The game is slated to tip off at 4:30 ET/1:30 PT.

The Terps, ranked 18th in the Associated Press Poll and 15th in the USA Today Poll, enter the national tournament with a 25-8 record.

Maryland is making its 26th overall appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and 20th postseason appearance in the last 23 years. The Terps have advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen seven times in the last 21 years, including consecutive trips to the NCAA Final Four in 2001 and 2002. The Terps captured the NCAA National Championship in 2002.

Maryland is 39-24 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, including 11 consecutive appearances from 1994 – 2004. The Terps have won at least one game in 11 straight NCAA appearances dating back to 1998.

The matchup marks Maryland's first game in history against South Dakota State (26-7), which won the Summit League Tournament Championship.

Should the Terps defeat South Dakota State, they would face the winner of the No. 4 seed California and the No. 13 seed Hawai'i Sunday.

– Maryland –