Jordan Marsh’s 20 points off the bench leads USC past Maryland 88-71

USC Trojans #7Jarden Marsh (G) floater from the left side of the basket is being challenge by the Maryland Terrapins #45 Collin Metcalf (C) at the Galen Center. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1 January 13, 2026.

LOS ANGELES, CA - Jordan Marsh was a big spark off the bench, scoring 20 points, along with Ezra Ausar and Jacob Cofie, both with 12 points, and Gabe Dynes and Jerry Easter II, both with 10 points, to help the USC Trojans (14-3, 3-3 BigTen) get a big win by beating the Maryland Terrapins (7-10, 0-6 BigTen) at home at the Galen Center 88-71.

“We needed that after getting our butts kicked at Michigan and Michigan State,” Coach Musselman said after beating the Terrapins. “We needed kind of a rejuvenation.”

The Trojans' defense struggled in the first half, trying to contain David Coit (G), who scored 19 of his 30 points in the first half to lead the Terrapins in scoring, followed by Solomon Washington and Daruis Adams, both with 11 points.

USC Trojans #45 Gabe Dynes (C) is being guarded by the Maryland Terrapins #45 Collin Metcalf on the right side of the baseline at the Galen Center. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1 January 13, 2026.

USC took a 4-0 lead to start the game with Gabe Dynes slicing through Maryland’s defense for a layup on the right side of the basket. The Terrapins took a 6-4 lead with a three-pointer by Andre Mills. The Trojans would go up 17-10 with a monster two-handed dunk by Chad Baker with 15:29 left in the first half.

Maryland Terrapins #8 David Coit (G) is going up high to get his shot over the high reach of an USC Trojans defender at the Galen Center. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1 January 13, 2026.

Maryland trailed 20-15 with a three-pointer by David Coit from the top of the key. The Terrapins began to creep back into the game with a huge three-point shot by Colt to trail 22-18.

Elijah Saunders from Maryland would tie the game 25-25 with a three-pointer in front of the USC bench. Maryland took their first lead of the game, 31-29, with a layup by Darius Adams with 4:15 left before halftime. USC tied the game 33-33 after Jerry Easter II was fouled on his made layup.

The Terrapins led 39-35 with two free throws by Colt. USC led at halftime 42-41 with two free throws by Kam Woods.  

Solomon Washington from Maryland would tie the game 42-42 to start the second half with one free throw after being fouled. Coach Musselman made a major change on defense by having Marsh guard Coit, who wasn’t able to get those good looks at the basket as he did in the first half.

USC Trojans #7 Jordan Marsh (G) three-point shot in front of the Maryland Terrapins’ bench at the Galen Center. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1 January 13, 2026.

Maryland would jump out 49-46 with a jump shot by Darius Adams. USC trailed 52-48 with a jump shot by Colt after being fouled, and his free throw to complete the and one.

USC would regain the lead 56-53 with a three-pointer by Jordan Marsh. The Trojans would increase their lead to six points, 58-52, with a floater by Easter II, forcing Maryland to call a timeout with 13:44 left in the game.

Gabe Dynes’ jump shot would give USC a seven-point cushion, 63-56, with 11:25 left in the game.

USC led 65-59 when Easter II drove to the basket from the right side of the court and went up for a reverse-layup on the left side of the basket. Marsh would deliver for the Trojans again with another three-pointer to give them a 68-60 lead.

“I was just getting to my spots, and I just trusted my shot,” Marsh told reporters. “I work on it all the time, so I just believe it’s going in every time.”

Jaden Brownell would pull up for a three-point shot to give  USC a 73-62 lead. Marsh continued his hot shooting, pulled up for a jump shot to give the Trojans an eleven-point lead, 75-64.

USC would close out the game with a 13-7 run to pick up its third win in the Big Ten by seventeen points despite all the injuries this season.

The Trojans did a great job of taking care of the basketball, committing just six turnovers, and dominated the paint scoring, 44 compared to Maryland’s 14, and out-rebounded them 35-24, and will have to do the same when they take on the No. 5 Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday at the Galen Center.