It’s getting a little hard to watch. If you’re a Maryland fan, you probably stayed up way too late on Tuesday night, January 13, 2026, hoping for a spark during that West Coast swing. Instead, we got another reality check. The final Maryland Terps men’s basketball score was a rough 88-71 loss to USC.
Losing happens. But losing like this? It’s different.
Maryland is now sitting at 7-10 overall and a glaring 0-6 in the Big Ten. Let that sink in for a second. We are midway through January and the Terps haven’t found a single conference win yet. This isn't just a slump; it’s a crisis. Buzz Williams, in his debut season as the head coach in College Park, is finding out the hard way that the Big Ten is a meat grinder, even if you’re playing the newcomers from the West.
The Diggy Coit Show (And Not Much Else)
Honestly, if it wasn't for David "Diggy" Coit, the score at the Galen Center would have been even more embarrassing. The graduate transfer from Kansas put the team on his back. He dropped 30 points. He was hitting from deep, he was getting to the line—he was basically the entire offensive game plan for long stretches.
But basketball is a team sport.
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While Coit was cooking, the rest of the roster looked out of sync. Solomon Washington fought hard for 11 points and 8 rebounds, but he was plagued by foul trouble. You can’t win games when your best interior defender is glued to the bench because he can’t stop reaching. Darius Adams chipped in 11, which is fine for a freshman, but Maryland needs a secondary consistent threat that just isn't there right now.
Where It All Fell Apart
The first half actually wasn't bad. The Terps were scrappy. They went into the locker room down just one point, 42-41. You could feel a little bit of hope. Maybe they’d finally snap the streak?
Then the second half started.
USC, led by Jordan Marsh and his 20 points, simply outclassed Maryland’s defense. The Trojans went on a 10-0 run that effectively ended the competitive portion of the night. Maryland went nearly five minutes without a single field goal. In college basketball, five minutes is an eternity. It’s the difference between a tight game and a blowout. By the time Jacob Cofie hit a three to put USC up by 14 with five minutes left, the energy was gone.
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The Pharrel Payne Void
We have to talk about the elephant in the room: Pharrel Payne.
The star forward has been out with a leg injury since last month. He was the anchor. Without him, the Terps have lost four straight and seven of their last eight. It’s a massive hole in the lineup. You can see the frustration on Buzz Williams’ face during the post-game pressers. He’s "auditing" the team, as he likes to say, but you can’t audit your way out of missing your best player.
The stats are pretty bleak right now:
- Maryland is shooting 39.8% as a team (ranked 356th in the country).
- They are 0-6 in conference play.
- They’ve given up 80+ points in three of their last four games.
The defense, which was supposed to be a hallmark of a Buzz Williams team, is currently ranked 298th in adjusted defensive rating. It’s a mess.
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What’s Next for the Terps?
The road doesn't get any easier. Maryland finally returns home to the XFINITY Center on Sunday, January 18, to face Penn State. It’s Hispanic Heritage Day, and frankly, the team needs any good vibes they can get.
If they don't beat Penn State, the schedule starts looking like a nightmare. They have to travel to #13 Illinois on January 21, and then head to East Lansing to play Michigan State on the 24th. There is a very real possibility that Maryland could be 0-9 in the Big Ten by the end of the month.
Fans are already getting restless. Athletic Director Jim Smith has admitted he’s "bummed out" by the results. That’s AD-speak for "this is unacceptable."
Practical Next Steps for the Season:
- Find a Second Option: Diggy Coit cannot score 30 every night. Someone like Isaiah Watts or Andre Mills has to step up and provide 15+ points consistently.
- Protect the Paint: Even without Payne, the revolving door in the lane has to stop. The Trojans shot 52% from the field. You won't win a game in the Big Ten allowing that kind of efficiency.
- Win at Home: The XFINITY Center used to be one of the scariest places to play. This year? Not so much. They need to reclaim that home-court advantage starting this Sunday.
Keep an eye on the injury report for Pharrel Payne. His return is the only thing that might save this season from being a total wash. Until then, expect a lot of heavy lifting from Coit and a lot of nail-biting for the fans in College Park.
Check the official Maryland athletics site or the Big Ten Network for the latest broadcast times as the Penn State game approaches.