IOWA CITY, Iowa (Interstat) — A surging Iowa team hosts a Maryland squad seeking consistency in a Big Ten men’s basketball matchup on Saturday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes (7-1) look to rebound from their first loss, a 71-52 defeat at Michigan State on Tuesday. Prior to that, Iowa had won seven straight, including notable victories over Xavier and Mississippi. Maryland (5-3) arrives off an 89-63 home win over Wagner on Tuesday, where Pharrel Payne scored 30 points. The Terrapins’ record is marked by a win over then-Marquette but also double-digit road losses to Alabama and Gonzaga. Iowa won both meetings last season by an average of 24.5 points, including an 85-76 victory in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes have relied on balanced scoring, led by Bennett Stirtz’s 14-point effort at Michigan State. Maryland will depend on its top performers from the Wagner game: Payne, guard Myles Rice (16 points), and forward Solomon Washington (10 points). The game is a conference opener for both teams. Iowa aims to protect its home court and build on its strong early-season form, while Maryland looks to carry momentum from its latest win into a challenging road environment. Tipoff is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6.