TC MASSACHUSETTS (2-1) at MARYLAND (6-1)
Site: Baltimore Arena
Time: 2 p.m.
TV/Radio: Channels 13, 7/WBAL (1090 AM)
Outlook: See stories, graphic, Page 1C.
AIR FORCE (4-1) at NAVY (2-2)
Site: Alumni Hall, Annapolis
Time: 3 p.m.
Radio: WNAV (1430 AM)
Outlook: The Falcons won their first four games before being upset by Mesa State, 58-54, on Wednesday. Senior G Otis Jones, who leads the nation in scoring (36 ppg), scored 37 to pace a 85-76 victory over the Midshipmen in both teams' opener at Air Force on Nov. 26. Navy ended an offensive slump with a 102-65 victory over Gettysburg on Monday, when junior C Alex Kohnen scored a career-high 25 points. Senior F Wes Cooper leads Navy in scoring (13.8) and rebounding (8.5). Sophomore G Randy Torgrimson adds 13.3 ppg. Swing man Jim Hamilton, who averaged 11.2 points last season, remains on academic probation. Senior guard T. J. Hall (2.5 ppg) continues to struggle offensively, hitting four of 24 field-goal attempts.
LOYOLA (2-3) at UMBC (0-4)
Site: UMBC Fieldhouse
Time: 7 p.m.
Outlook: UMBC is off to the worst start in its 27-year basketball history. After dropping a 76-72 decision to North Texas in their opener, the Retrievers have struggled offensively in lopsided losses to Robert Morris, Maryland and Drexel. Eric Lay (14.8) and Eric Hayes (10.3) are the only players averaging double figures. Senior C Pascal Fleury is averaging 3.8 blocks. Loyola, under new coach Brian Ellerbe, lost to Towson State in its last outing. Senior F B. J. Pendleton leads the Greyhounds in scoring (17.2) and rebounding (7.2). G Darius Johnson (15.6) has provided consistent scoring. Loyola leads the series, 21-10. UMBC last beat Loyola two years ago at Baltimore Arena, 77-62.
LONG ISLAND (1-4) at MORGAN STATE (0-4)
Site: Hill Field House
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Radio: WEAA (88.9 FM)
Outlook: The Bears, who lost to James Madison, 101-74, on Thursday night, continue to search for their first win. Morgan defeated the Blackbirds, 75-70, last season to even the series at 2-2. G Scott Dees has moved into the Bears' starting lineup and leads the team in scoring (11.8 ppg). Freshman G Jerard Rucker scored 18 points in Morgan's latest defeat and junior college transfer Ron James had 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Joe Griffin (26.0 ppg) leads the Blackbirds.
COPPIN STATE (0-4) at KANSAS STATE (3-2)
Site: Bramlage Coliseum, Manhattan, Kan.
Time: 8 p.m.
Radio: WOLB (1010 AM)
Outlook: Coppin State concludes its three-stop tour of the Big Eight. The Eagles have lost to Kansas and Missouri by a combined 50 points, mostly because they have been reduced to a perimeter-shooting team, due to the shaky play of their frontcourt. Coppin State coach Fang Mitchell will start four guards, benching C Mario McGriff and giving G Kyle Locke his first start. Kansas State doesn't present the Eagles with the overwhelming height problems they have faced. G Sidney Goodman snapped out of a scoring slump with 20 points at Missouri. G Keith Carmichael (15.3 ppg) hopes to regain the three-point shooting touch he had on his 32-point night at Kansas. Kansas State, picked to finish near the bottom of the Big Eight, is coming off a 32-point victory over Howard, after losing to a solid Illinois team by seven. Forwards Demond Davis and Tyrone Davis are averaging a combined 21 points and 14 rebounds, and G Elliot Hatcher (12.2 ppg) leads the team in scoring.
MARYLAND WOMEN (3-2) at RUTGERS (2-4)
Site: Louis Brown Athletic Center, New Brunswick, N.J.
Time: 2 p.m.
Outlook: The Terps looked shaky in stretches of Wednesday's ** 74-56 win over Coppin State and may have trouble in their first big road test of the season. Maryland is shooting 33 percent from the field, and no player has hit 50 percent of her shots. The Scarlet Knights have started slowly, losing, 102-70, Wednesday to No. 16 Georgia, committing 30 turnovers in the process.