A December stretch that includes three nonconference games against NCAA tournament teams -- one of them a date at the Baltimore Arena against Princeton -- highlights the Maryland basketball schedule, which was announced yesterday.

On Dec. 6, the Terps face Stanford in the BB&T; Classic at the MCI Center in Washington, then travel to Kentucky on Dec. 12. Maryland plays at the Arena against Princeton on Dec. 19.

The Kentucky game is part of a home-and-home series with the Wildcats, with Kentucky playing at Cole Field House during the 1999-2000 season.

The Terps' Atlantic Coast Conference opener is Dec. 3 at home against Wake Forest. After a Dec. 27 game against South Carolina State, Maryland plays strictly an ACC schedule.

1998-99 Terps schedule

November

4 -- Croatian National Team, 8 p.m.; 11 -- California All-Stars, 8 p.m.; 14 -- Western Carolina, 8 p.m.; 17 -- UMBC, 8 p.m.; 20 -- Hofstra, 8 p.m.; 23 -- Duquesne, 8 p.m.; 26-28 -- at Puerto Rico Shootout, TBA.

December

3 -- Wake Forest, 8 p.m.; 6 -- vs. Stanford at BB&T; Classic at MCI Center, 1 p.m.; 7 -- at BB&T; Classic, 8: 30 p.m.; 12 -- at Kentucky, 8: 30 p.m.; 19 -- vs. Princeton at Baltimore Arena, 9: 30 p.m.; 23 -- North Texas, 8 p.m.; 27 -- South Carolina State, 1: 30 p.m.

January

3 -- Duke, 1: 30 p.m.; 7 -- at Virginia, 8 p.m.; 10 -- North Carolina State, 1: 30 p.m.; 13 -- at North Carolina, 9 p.m.; 19 -- Georgia Tech, 9 p.m.; 24 -- at Clemson, 4 p.m.; 27 -- Florida State, 8 p.m.; 31 -- at Wake Forest, 1: 30 p.m.

February

3 -- at Duke, 9 p.m.; 6 -- Virginia, 1 p.m.; 10 -- at North Carolina State, 7 p.m.; 13 -- North Carolina, 4 p.m.; 21 -- at Georgia Tech, 1: 30 p.m.; 24 -- Clemson, 7 p.m.; 27 -- at Florida State, 1: 30 p.m.

March

4-7 -- ACC tournament at Charlotte, N.C., TBA

Pub Date: 8/13/98