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.
Maryland
Maryland men’s basketball vs. Penn State preview
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?
Maryland
Dog who called Maryland shelter home for 7 years finally adopted: “There wasn’t a dry eye in the house”
The SPCA of Anne Arundel County announced that their longest running shelter resident has been adopted. Kylo Jace found his forever home after living at the SPCA of Anne Arundel County for 7 years.
The SPCA said on their Facebook page thar Kylo is a dog who “takes many meetings with someone in order to fully trust them and feel comfortable enough to show his true silly, wonderful personality.”
Over the years, he had specific volunteers and staff who had earned his trust and would take turns walking and caring for him day after day, the shelter said.
Over the course of the past 7 months, the woman who adopted Kylo came to visit him twice a week and slowly, but surely, worked her way into his trusted inner circle.
The team at SPCA even worked to ensure Kylo was comfortable getting into his new owner’s car, doing home visits before the big day. On Sunday, he officially left the building that he has spent the past few years in for the final time.
“There wasn’t a dry eye in the house and we truly are on Cloud 9 knowing he gets to spend the rest of his life loved for exactly who he is!” shelter staff said on social media.
Kylo’s adoption fee was fully paid for in memory of Jim Ehrig, a fan favorite of Kylo’s who passed away.
The SPCA hopes Kylo’s story will encourage more people to take a chance on a shelter dog.
Watch Tide to Table of Ocean City’s crew in action in Instagram reel
Instagram reel offers inside look at Tide to Table crew in action. Provided bby Jason Schwinabart, Vision Jet Media.
Vision Jet Media
The results are in for Delmarva Now’s reader poll of the best local ice cream shop on Maryland’s Lower Shore.
The 10 ice cream shops featured in the poll from the Ocean City, Salisbury and Berlin areas are often sought out by beachgoers with a sweet tooth during the hot summer months.
Get to know the winner and runner-up below.
Island Creamery voted best ice cream shop on Lower Shore
Island Creamery finished in first place with 47 votes, or 62.67% of the total, in Delmarva Now’s reader poll.
The creamery, named “Best Ice Cream Place in America” on July 7, 2023, for its use of fresh, quality ingredients and creativity, is best known for unique flavors such as Wallops Rocket Fuel and Rum Raisin.
It operates three locations across the Delmarva Peninsula: 120 N. Main St. in Berlin, 306 Dogwood Drive in Salisbury and 6243 Maddox Blvd. in Chincoteague, Virginia.
Dumser’s Dairyland secures second place in ice cream poll
Dumser’s Dairyland secured second place in Delmarva Now’s reader poll with 16 votes, or 21.33% of the total.
The family-owned business first opened in 1939 and offers a wide variety of fresh ice cream flavors, including coconut chocolate chip, butter pecan and mint Oreo.
Dumser’s Dairyland operates seven locations in Ocean City, including on the Boardwalk, in West Ocean City and along Coastal Highway. Some locations capture the look of a 1950s diner.
Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at ominzola@delmarvanow.com.
Maryland lawmakers serving in the U.S. Congress expressed their condolences on Sunday after the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.
Graham, a Republican, died on Saturday following a “brief and sudden illness,” according to his office. He was 71 years old.
Republican Congressman Andy Harris, who represents Maryland in the House of Representatives, called Stewart a “true leader” and said his “selfless service to his country both in uniform and in Congress is much appreciated.”
“My deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, dedicated staff, and the people of South Carolina during this difficult time,” Harris said. “Working with him on budget issues made it clear to me that he was a true leader in the fight to restore fiscal responsibility, and he will be sorely missed.”
Graham died on Saturday evening, shortly after he returned from a trip to Ukraine. He was scheduled to appear on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday.
He served in the U.S. House of Representatives, followed by four terms in the U.S. Senate. Before his political career, Graham served in the United States Air Force.
Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who served with Graham in Congress for more than two decades, said that even though the two disagreed on many issues, they had always had “an open line of communication and honest conversation.”
“Whenever possible, we worked together to find common ground, including our joint efforts to support our Syrian Kurdish partners and the SDF, who have been our main allies in the fight against ISIS,” Van Hollen stated. “My heart goes out to Lindsey’s loved ones during this difficult time.”
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