Maryland

Maryland men’s basketball vs. Penn State preview

Published

2 months ago

January 18, 2026

Maryland men’s basketball vs. Penn State preview

Through six Big Ten games, Maryland men’s basketball sits tied for last place in the conference. The standings on the official website have Maryland sitting 16th — saved from the bottom by alphabetical order.

If Maryland is going to elevate itself from the cellar, the next game is crucial. Penn State — 18th of 18 by virtue of starting with a P — comes to visit Sunday. One team has to leave Xfinity Center with its first Big Ten win of the season, barring a miracle.

The Terps and the Nittany Lions tip off at noon Sunday. The game will be available to watch on the Big Ten Network.

Penn State Nittany Lions (9-8, 0-6 Big Ten)

2024-25 record: 16-15, 6-4 Big Ten

Third-year head coach Mike Rhoades got Penn State off to a historic start last season, when the team opened the year 6-0 for the first time in the 21st century and beat two top-15 programs. The Nittany Lions achieved everything with a free-flowing offense — their 79.1 points per game last year set a program record — and a dominant big in Yanic Konan Niederhauser.

But Niederhauser went to the NBA, and Rhoades brought in eight freshmen, so Penn State has taken a slight step backwards in 2025-26 as a result. The Nittany Lions started the season strong again, but a 113-72 humbling by Indiana Dec. 9 set the tone for the team. Like Maryland, Penn State has lost four straight and seven of its last eight games.

Ivan Jurić, freshman forward, 7-foot-0, No. 3 — One of several young, high-level international players that Penn State has brought in, Jurić worked his way through the Croatian professional ranks before playing one season at an American academy, so he’s used to going against other bigs — his 4.4 rebounds per game lead his team.

Melih Tunca, freshman guard, 6-foot-5, No. 9 — Tunca projects to be Penn State’s top guard available against Maryland, but that isn’t a slight on him at all. The Istanbul native has done a little bit of everything for the Nittany Lions this season, ranking top-three on the team in minutes, points, assists and 3-point percentage. He even has a team-high five blocks.

Josh Reed, senior forward, 6-foot-10, No. 10 — Reed provides vital experience for the Nittany Lions as the only true senior on the roster. The Cincinnati transfer has provided solid secondary support on the glass and in the paint, but where he stands out is at the stripe — Reed makes 89.4% of his free throws, 12th-best in the conference.

Ball security. The Nittany Lions are good at both keeping the ball and forcing it away from their opponents. Their 9.4 turnovers per game are third-worst in the conference, and their 7.6 steals per game are second-best. That ability could give them an edge against a Maryland team that has improved but remains sloppy at times.

Rebounding. Penn State’s average of 31 rebounds per game ranks 348th in all of Division I. Only five players average over three rebounds per game, and only two of them are guaranteed to play Sunday. This should be the sort of game where Maryland doesn’t even need to miss Pharrel Payne.

1. Can the Nittany Lions’ backcourt play? Nittany Lions fans have seen their top two scorers go down hurt in the new year. Terps fans, who saw injuries come thick and fast through the beginning of the season, will know the feeling all too well.

Freshman star Kayden Mingo suffered a broken nose in practice Jan. 5 and has missed three games since; if he plays, it will not be at full strength. Freddie Dilione V exited Penn State’s game Wednesday night with what Rhoades confirmed to be a sprained ankle. The absence of one or both would be a boon for Maryland.

2. Maryland needs to find the pass. The Terps had just six assists on field goals against USC and average under eight a game in the new year. Getting the ball moving again on the offensive end has to be one of head coach Buzz Williams’ top priorities.

3. Now or… not for a while. It’s near impossible to say never in college basketball, which can truly live up to the “any given night” moniker. But Maryland has already played two of its games against the bottom third of the table, and they play three teams in the top third following this game. For the elusive Big Ten victory, if not now, when?

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Maryland

USPS driver charged with manslaughter in crash that killed Montgomery County woman

Published

3 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

USPS driver charged with manslaughter in crash that killed Montgomery County woman

It was a summer morning last July when 64-year-old Mairi Morrison set out for her daily walk, not knowing it would be her last.

Surveillance video shows a USPS mail truck pulling out of a gas station in Kensington, Maryland, right as Morrison was crossing the driveway.

After the USPS driver hit Morrison, he kept driving forward for 4 seconds and then backed up for 6 seconds, all with her body still underneath the van, according to court documents.

“I feel her loss every single day and I try not to imagine, but it’s not easy, how painful and horrific her death ended up being,” Morrison’s sister, Catriona Morrison, told News4 by phone.

The driver of the mail truck was 26-year-old Oscar Pedrozo from Silver Spring. Montgomery County prosecutors have now charged him with criminally negligent manslaughter, a misdemeanor.

Court documents show Pedrozo told police in an interview he heard a thump and felt a vibration, and thought someone ran into him.

He admitted he had earbuds in and was listening to music, but he said the volume was low and that he could still hear his surroundings.

“I am relieved the driver is being held responsible. I also feel, of course, sadness and a renewed sense of how much has been needlessly lost,” Catriona Morrison said.

Mairi Morrison was an attorney. Her sister said she enjoyed reading, traveling and giving pro-bono legal assistance.

“If somebody needed legal help, she would just throw herself into the cause and work tirelessly for them free of charge,” she said.

Court records show Pedrozo posted bond on Thursday.

If convicted, he could face up to three years behind bars.

Pedrozo’s trial is scheduled for May 14.

“The individual is still an employee with the U.S. Postal Service,” USPS said in a statement to News4. “Pursuant to postal policy, we do not discuss internal personnel matters, and we cannot further comment on the status of this employee.”

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Maryland

Showers and falling temperatures across Maryland Friday

Published

15 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

Showers and falling temperatures across Maryland Friday

Updated on: March 27, 2026 / 8:14 AM EDT
/ CBS Baltimore

A strong cold front crossing Maryland Friday will bring us a shock to the system. Temperatures will turn dramatically colder late Friday through Saturday.

Turning chilly, showery weather Friday across Maryland

Morning temperatures continue to fall across Maryland as a cold front crosses the state. You’ll need your umbrella at times Friday, but the day isn’t a washout. The greatest chance of rain is now through 10 a.m. Friday. There will be a pause in the shower activity late morning through early afternoon with cloudy skies, breezy, and chilly weather.

A second batch of showery weather will arrive after 2 p.m. and last through about 6 p.m. This second round of showers will be more focused for areas along and south of I-70. Showers will quickly taper off by early evening as temperatures continue to fall.

A few scattered snow flurries cannot be ruled out as the core of the cold air arrives late Friday evening. Overnight lows Friday into Saturday morning will fall into the lower 30s with wind-chills dropping into the 20s.

Weekend starts cold, but turns milder in Baltimore

Morning temperatures both Saturday and Sunday will start off in the lower 30s. Saturday will feel colder though with a gusty wind out of the northwest at 10 to 20 mph. Saturday will be the colder of the two weekend days with highs only in the upper 40s. The O’s game Saturday afternoon will feature chilly sunshine with temperatures in the middle 40s. You’ll need to dress for winter.

Sunday starts cold, but will turn milder during the afternoon. Look for a mostly sunny sky with winds turning gusty out of the southwest at 10 to 20 mph. Highs by Sunday afternoon will top out around 60°. The O’s game Sunday afternoon will still feel quite cool with the gusty breeze, so make sure you’re wearing a spring jacket, but also have the sunglasses.

Warmer, scattered storms possible in Maryland next week

Temperatures continue to warm up through the early part of next week as a chance of scattered rain returns to the forecast.

Clouds and a few showers will keep temperatures in the low to middle 70s on Monday. The warm front should lift north of the area on Tuesday allowing temperatures to warm into the lower 80s with mainly dry weather.

Wednesday’s temperatures will soar into the lower to middle 80s ahead of a strong cold front that arrives Wednesday evening. Showers and gusty thunderstorms will be possible late Wednesday into Wednesday night. Behind the cold front, temperatures will be cooler Thursday and Friday with the chance for showers.

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Maryland

Maryland high court rejects municipal climate change damages suit

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Maryland high court rejects municipal climate change damages suit

Maryland’s highest court on Tuesday dismissed several local government claims to recover damages against several large energy companies for harm created by climate change, finding that federal law preempts the case and state law does not support it.

The case dates to 2018, when the city of Baltimore filed a lawsuit against the energy companies, alleging that their decades-long activities contributed to climate-related damages to the city. Anne Arundel County and Annapolis filed similar lawsuits. After a number of procedural disputes over several years, in part over federal jurisdiction and venue, the case arrived in Maryland state courts and consolidated on appeal.

In a consolidated decision, Maryland’s Supreme Court upheld the dismissal of the local government suits against the energy companies. Plaintiffs had alleged that the companies contributed to climate change through the production and promotion of fossil fuels, asserting state law claims including public nuisance, trespass, and failure to warn.

The court determined that state claims were displaced by federal common law regarding interstate pollution and further preempted by federal legislation, including the Clean Air Act. According to the court, allowing state tort actions to go forward would interfere with a comprehensive federal regulatory scheme regarding greenhouse gases.

The court also found that even if these claims were not preempted, they would not succeed on other grounds. The court emphasized the difficulty in proving causation between large scale activity’s localized effects and concerns regarding the timing of the alleged injuries.

The decision is a substantial roadblock for state and local governments looking to recover costs related to climate change. It is also one in a growing line of case law that limits state court ability to address global emissions.

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