Maryland (5-2) vs. Virginia Tech (5-2)
December 1, 2021
XFINITY Center
7:15 pm EDT
COLLEGE PARK, MDÂ -Â The Maryland men's basketball team returns to XFINITY Center Wednesday night as it hosts former Atlantic Coast Conference foe Virginia Tech in the 2021 Big Ten/ACC Men's Basketball Challenge presented by Continental Tire. It is Maryland's first meeting with the Hokies since it left the ACC following the 2013-14 season.
Wednesday's game will be broadcast on the Maryland Sports Radio Network and ESPN2.Â
Â
VIRGINIA TECH STORYLINES
HOME COOKING
- Maryland has been dominant at home since the start of 2017-18, collecting a 61-13 (.813) overall record. The program's 61 wins during that span are the most in the Big Ten Conference.
- The Terrapins lost an uncharacteristic six games at home last season without fans in the building due to COVID-19.
BIAS IS IN THE BUILDING
- Wednesday, Maryland is celebrating the enshrinement of the late Len Bias into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, Nov. 21, in Kansas City.
- He is just the fourth Terrapin to be represented in the hall, joining Tom McMillen and head coaches Lefty Driesell and Gary Williams.
- The Terrapins will celebrate the life and legacy of Bias with a number of initiatives, including an on-court recognition of the Bias family and a giveaway of replica golden Bias jerseys to the first 4,000 students in attendance.
PLAYING WITH HARTÂ
- Junior Hakim Hart broke out for a season-high 24 points on 8-of-9 shooting, including 19 in the second half, as Maryland defeated Richmond, 86-80, on Thankgiving in the Bahamas.Â
- The Terrapins trailed by nine points at the break and outscored the Spiders by 15 in the second half. Hart currently leads the Big Ten with 13 total steals.
BALANCE IS KEY
- Through seven games of the season, the Terrapins have presented a balanced scoring attack with four players averaging double-figures.
- Eric Ayala and Fatts Russell have reached double-figures in 6-of-7 games, while junior Hakim Hart (6.6 pts/g) displayed his ability to breakout with a 24-point performance vs. Richmond (11/25).
ALL EYES ON AYALA
- Maryland senior Eric Ayala surpassed the 1,000-point milestone in the first game of the season against Quinnipiac, becoming the 58th player in program history to do so. He currently ranks 50th in program history with 1,091 career points. Gary Ward (1963-66) currently ranks 49th with 1,094 career points.
- Against George Mason (11/17), Ayala passed Walt Williams for 13th in program history in 3-pointers made. He currently sits at 165 3-pointers for his career. Former teammate Aaron Wiggins (2018-21) ranks 12th with 172.
- Prior to the season, Ayala was selected Preseason All-Big Ten and is on the watch lists for the Wooden Award and Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award.
SERIES HISTORY
- Maryland holds a formidable 32-10 all-time record against Virginia Tech in a series that dates back to the 1925-26 season.
- Maryland has won the last six meetings, including the most recent matchup on March 4, 2014 when Jake Layman came off the bench to score 13 points in a 64-47 victory.
Click here for this week's game notes.
