COLLEGE PARK, Md. — In an impressive showing on Thursday night, Rodney Rice contributed 22 points, while Ja’Kobi Gillespie added 20, leading No. 20 Maryland to an 88-71 victory against Southern California. This win marked Maryland’s eighth triumph in their last nine games.
The matchup saw the Terrapins (21-6, 11-5 Big Ten) and the Trojans (14-12, 6-9) clash for the first time since 1990, a period during which both teams were members of different conferences. From the outset, Maryland established dominance, never trailing and starting both halves with significant momentum to maintain a lead over USC.
Derik Queen also made a notable impact for Maryland, scoring 13 points and securing 17 rebounds. For the Trojans, Wesley Yates III was the standout performer, putting up 21 points in the contest.
The game began with Maryland scoring the first 11 points, quickly extending their lead to 18-5 following a dunk by Jordan Geronimo. The Terrapins held a 37-27 advantage at halftime, and they wasted no time in the second half by executing a 15-5 run that pushed their lead to 20 points.
In the second half, Clark Slajchert entered the game and nailed three 3-pointers for USC, helping cut the lead down to six at one point. However, the Trojans could not narrow the gap any further. Remarkably, Maryland’s starting lineup accounted for 85 of the team’s total 88 points.
In terms of takeaways, USC has struggled recently, losing four out of their last five games. Their scores were diminished in comparison to Maryland’s team effort, with only Yates surpassing 11 points. For the Terrapins, while securing a portion of the Big Ten title seems unlikely, this victory positions them favorably for a possible bye to the quarterfinals in the conference tournament, currently tying them for fourth place in the standings.
A pivotal moment came when USC head coach Eric Musselman attempted to disrupt Maryland’s fast-paced start with a timeout after the Terrapins made two quick 3-pointers. Despite this strategy, Maryland continued to push their lead into double digits, forcing USC to play from behind for the remainder of the game.
When looking at key statistics, it is worth noting that Maryland boasts a remarkable 16-1 record at home this season, including an impressive streak of 13 consecutive home wins.
Looking ahead, USC is set to face Rutgers on Sunday, while Maryland will return to action on Wednesday for a home game against No. 14 Michigan State.
