Wrapping up a fairly light Tuesday in the corridor (and even slightly further afield, too) ...
FORTUNES RISING, TEAM
Maryland
The Terrapins can exhale, ever so slightly, after extracting a 64-59 victory over Boston College.
It wasn't artful, to be certain. It was a victory, and a Maryland's largest point total since Jan. 5.
To be certain, it staves off the sorts who panic with every result. To be fair to them, the Terps (15-4, 3-3 ACC) wouldn't be in the happiest spot had they lost, what with trips to Duke and Florida State looming.
If Maryland snags a split of those two games, it will sit at .500 in league play entering February, when the schedule becomes vastly more favorable. It will then be on the Terps not to mess up needlessly, particularly at home.
They avoided a misstep on Tuesday, and that counts for something at the moment.
FORTUNES RISING, INDIVIDUAL
Jake Layman, Maryland
The freshman's defense is improved. His comfort level is better. And there's a decent shot he'll play a larger and larger role as the season unfolds.
Layman had 15 points and five rebounds against Boston College while making his third career start. It wasn't a lights-out great outing like his 20-point day against Virginia Tech, but it was exceptionally solid at both ends of the floor. The Terps will happily take more such days over the next couple months.
FORTUNES FALLING
Longwood
The Lancers' first trek through the Big South isn't going swimmingly. Facing maybe their best chance yet, the Lancers (3-17, 0-6) were pummeled 74-47 at Liberty (6-14, 2-4).
One good development? Presbyterian (4-15, 1-4), which shares the cellar in the league's South Division, comes to Farmville on Saturday.
NUMBER OF NOTE
3-0
Record for Maryland when both Logan Aronhalt and Jake Layman hit multiple 3-pointers. That's happened in victories over Maryland-Eastern Shore, Virginia Tech and now Boston College.
ON TAP WEDNESDAY
In the D1scourse game of choice, George Mason (11-7, 4-2 Colonial) puts its 19-game winning streak against Towson (10-10, 5-2) on the line when it visits the Baltimore suburbs in an unexpectedly intriguing conference game. ... Navy (7-12, 1-2 Patriot) heads to American (6-12, 1-2) for a game moved up to 7 p.m. to account for a Comcast SportsNet broadcast. ...
George Washington (8-9, 2-2 Atlantic 10) seeks a sweep of the league's New England schools as it pays a visit to Rhode Island (6-10, 1-2). ... Howard (4-16, 1-5 MEAC), which is averaging 47.1 points over its last seven games, tries to break out of its offensive funk as it travels to Delaware State (6-10, 1-1).
After a weekend off, UMBC (4-14, 2-3 America East) welcomes Stony Brook to the RAC Arena. ... Further afield, William & Mary visits Northeastern; James Madison plays host to Delaware; and VMI heads to High Point.
--- Patrick Stevens
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