#3 Terps Play Rutgers Wednesday at Xfinity & Stone Named B1G Player, Freshman of The Week

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The No. 3 Maryland men’s basketball team welcomes Rutgers for a 7 p.m. tilt on Wednesday at XFINITY Center.

WATCH: BTN - Kevin Kugler (Play-by-Play), Dan Bonner (Analyst)

LISTEN: Terrapin Sports Radio Network - Johnny Holliday (PxP), Chris Knoche (Analyst) -SiriusXM Channel 83/195, ESPN 980 AM, 105.7 FM

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STORYLINES
• Diamond Stone was named Big Ten Player and Freshman of the Week on Monday after averaging 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game in leading the Terrapins to wins over Penn State and Northwestern. For the week, he shot 73.7 percent (14-of-19) from the floor and 77.8 percent (21-of-27) from the free throw line. Stone poured in a season-high and Maryland single-game freshman record 39 points, pulled down a season-best 12 rebounds and recorded a pair of blocks in the Terrapins’ come-from-behind win over the Nittany Lions.

• Maryland’s 72-59 win at Northwestern marked Mark Turgeon’s 350th career win and included his 100th win at Maryland. Rasheed Sulaimon and Melo Trimble combined for 40 points, 14 assists and 14 rebounds in a win at Northwestern. The duo collectively also had three steals and committed just one turnover against the Wildcats.

• With a win over Rutgers, Maryland can open up conference play with three consecutive wins for the first time since 2001-02 season (win at NC State, 72-65, win at North Carolina, 112-79 and win at Georgia Tech, 92-87).

• Maryland has won eight consecutive conference regular season games dating back to last season (Feb. 11, 2015). The Terps have won four home games during that streak (Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan and Penn State) and road wins at (Penn State, Rutgers, Nebraska and Northwestern). This marks the longest such streak since the 2001-02 team posted 13 consecutive conference wins en route to winning 32 games and a national championship.

• The Terps (13-1) moved up a spot to No. 3 in the Associated Press and USA Today Top 25 after recording wins over Penn State and at Northwestern last week. Maryland has been ranked in the AP Top 25 for 25 straight weeks.

• Sophomore guard/forward Jared Nickens is from Monmouth Junction, N.J. Maryland is shooting 41 percent from three-point range with 51 treys over the last five games, including eight from Nickens.

SCOUTING RUTGERS
• Rutgers (6-9, 0-2 B1G) fell at Wisconsin 79-57 and versus Indiana 79-72 to start the Big Ten season.

• Corey Sanders (13.4 ppg), Deshawn Freeman (13.1 ppg) and Mike Williams (11.7 ppg) lead Rutgers in scoring.

• Maryland leads the all-time series, 5-3, including two wins against Rutgers last season.
CHICAGO – Freshman center Diamond Stone has been named Big Ten Player and Freshman of the Week, the league announced Monday afternoon.

Stone has been a force in the paint, averaging 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in a pair of wins against Penn State and at Northwestern.  In addition, Stone connected on 14-of-19 field goal attempts (74 percent) and 21-of-27 free throw attempts (78 percent).

Stone had 39 points and a career-best 12 rebounds in his Big Ten debut - a 70-64 win over Penn State. Stone’s 39 points marked the most points by a freshman in a single game in school history. The previous mark was established by Joe Smith (33 points vs. Rider in 11/20/93). He became only the fourth player in the Big Ten to score 35 or more points and snag 10 or more rebounds since 2000.

The Milwaukee, Wisc., native also established a school record in free throws made (19) and attempted (25) in a single game. Tom McMillen connected on 17 free throws made against Canisius (12/17/71) and Keith Booth attempted 24 free throws vs. George Washington (12/9/96).

Stone’s 39 points against Penn State marked the most points in a single game of any Big Ten player this season and was the most in a single game in XFINITY Center history.

Stone followed with 10 points, three rebounds and two blocks in a 72-59 win at Northwestern.  Prior to their game against the Terps, the Wildcats entered the game off to their best start in school history at 13-1.

It is the first career weekly award for Stone and the second for a Terrapin this season (Melo Trimble, Co-Player of the Week on 12/14).

Maryland welcomes Rutgers for a 7 p.m. tilt on Wednesday at XFINITY Center.