The Southern California Trojans asserted their dominance over the Maryland Terrapins, cruising to an 88-71 victory at the Galen Center. Jordan Marsh led the charge for USC, scoring 20 points to pace the Trojans' high-powered offense. Despite a valiant effort from Maryland's David Coit, who poured in 30 points, the Terrapins were unable to keep pace with USC's balanced attack.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with USC taking a slim 42-41 lead into the break. However, the Trojans came out firing in the second half, outscoring Maryland 46-30 to pull away for the convincing win. Jacob Cofie and Ezra Ausar chipped in with 12 points apiece for USC, while Solomon Washington added 11 points and 8 rebounds for the Terrapins.
Marsh's 20-point outing was a key factor in USC's victory, as the Trojans' offense hummed along at a high level throughout the game. Coit's 30-point effort was impressive, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Terrapins' defensive struggles. Maryland was unable to slow down USC's attack, which shot efficiently from the field and capitalized on its transition opportunities.
The win improves USC's record to 15-5, and the Trojans' net ranking of 51 suggests they are firmly in the mix for an NCAA Tournament bid. This game was classified as a Quadrant 3 win for USC, which will help bolster their resume as they navigate the remainder of their schedule. For Maryland, the loss drops their record to 8-12, and their net ranking of 159 indicates they have significant work to do to get back into tournament contention. This game was considered a Quadrant 1 opportunity for the Terrapins, making the loss all the more disappointing.
As the season wears on, USC want to build on this impressive performance and continue to strengthen their tournament case. With a strong offense and a solid defense, the Trojans have the potential to make some noise in the postseason. For Maryland, the focus will shift to regrouping and trying to string together some wins to get back into the conversation. Despite the loss, Coit's 30-point effort was a bright spot for the Terrapins, and they want to him to continue leading the charge as they try to turn their season around.
The outcome of this game has real consequences for both teams' tournament chances. USC's win helps to solidify their position as a potential NCAA Tournament team, while Maryland's loss makes their path to the postseason more difficult. As the season enters its critical stretch, both teams want to make a push and improve their resume. For USC, this win is a key step in that process, and they want to build on this momentum as they move forward.