Story By: Sol Tucker
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Los Angeles CA–
We have talked quite a bit this season about the Terps woes in the second half of the game, tonight against USC was just another one of those games where they had the game well within reach at halftime and in the second half the offense just disappears.
Tonight, the Terps had really just one answer to the USC team of big men… Diggy Coit.
Coit who has been hot in quite a few games has not had a real breakout game since the Mount game. He got things going again tonight; however, he just could not finish with any of the same drive in the second half. He totaled 19 of the Terps’ 42 points in the opening half. Coit would finish with 31 points.
Coit posted his third 30+ point game of the season and the ninth of his career. He now has three of Maryland’s eight 20+ point performances in 2025-26. He became the first Terp to score 30+ on the road since Jahmir Young had 31 against MSU in 2024.
USC was able to use their bigs later in the game and even without Auburn transfer Chad Baker-Mazara starting the game after battling a bit of an illness, his second half helped the Trojans really pull away in the final 5 minutes of this game.
One of the major differences in this game tonight was that USC’s bench combined for 46 points, while the Terps only received eight total points from Myles Rice, Andre Mills and George Turkson.
Where the Terps could have really been competitive late in this game is if they had Pharrel Payne in the line-up. With no timetable available on his return, the Terps have a huge battle ahead of them if they want to win a game in the Big 10 this season.
The Terps return to College Park to take on Penn State on Jan. 18. Tipoff is set for 12 PM and the game will air on BTN. The game will be Hispanic Heritage Day.
