Diggy Coit’s Record Night Buries Penn State in Another Big Ten Setback
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - For a Penn State team desperate to break through in Big Ten play, Sunday felt like it had the makings of a turning point. Reinforcements were back.
Kayden Mingo returned just two weeks after nasal surgery, masked up and ready to go. Freddie Dilione, who’d sprained his ankle days earlier, was also available.
And with Maryland also winless in conference play, this looked like the kind of matchup the Nittany Lions needed to get right.
Instead, they ran into a buzzsaw named Diggy Coit.
The Maryland guard torched Penn State for a Xfinity Center-record 43 points, powering the Terps to a 96-73 win and handing the Nittany Lions their fifth straight loss - all in games that were within reach at some point. Penn State is now 0-7 in Big Ten play and 9-9 overall, still searching for answers as the conference schedule grinds on.
Coit Catches Fire - And Never Cools Off
Let’s start with the obvious: Coit was electric. The 5-foot-11 guard didn’t just have a hot hand - he had a flamethrower.
He scored 30 in the first half alone, outpacing the entire Penn State roster (which managed just 26 by halftime), and finished 14-of-23 from the field, including a blistering 9-of-15 from beyond the arc. This wasn’t just a good performance - it was historic.
His 43 points set a new scoring record for the arena and fell just one shy of Maryland’s all-time single-game mark.
From the opening minutes, Coit was in complete control. He scored 11 of Maryland’s first 15 points, attacking off the dribble, drawing contact, and burying triples with ease.
By the under-4 timeout in the first half, Coit had 25 points - the same total as the entire Penn State team at that point. It was a one-man show, and the Nittany Lions had no answers.
Mingo Returns with a Spark - But Not Enough
Despite the final score, Penn State didn’t come out flat. In fact, Mingo made an immediate impact in his return.
On the game’s first possession, he drilled a three from the right wing, and he stayed aggressive throughout, attacking the paint and creating offense. He finished with a team-high 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting, adding five assists and three boards in 34 minutes.
It was a gutsy performance from a player who’d just undergone surgery and was wearing a protective mask. Mingo scored seven of Penn State’s first 13 points and looked like the offensive engine they’ve been missing.
Dilione, returning from his ankle injury, also gave it a go. He knocked down a three in the first half and looked mobile, but played sparingly - just two minutes after halftime - and finished with five points.
A Tale of Two Halves - But the Hole Was Too Deep
After falling behind 56-26 at halftime - a 30-point deficit driven by Maryland’s 54.1% shooting and Coit’s explosion - Penn State came out swinging in the second half. The Nittany Lions opened on a 20-4 run, slicing the deficit to 14 and forcing Maryland to regroup.
Dominick Stewart, quiet in the first half, came alive with a three that cut it to 12. Ivan Jurić followed with a dunk to make it 61-51, and suddenly it felt like a comeback might be brewing.
But that hope was short-lived.
Maryland responded with a 10-1 burst, capped by - who else? - a Coit three-pointer that pushed the lead back to 78-59. That was the dagger. Penn State never got closer than 10 again, and the Terps cruised the rest of the way.
Supporting Cast Shows Flashes, But Rebounding Woes Continue
Beyond Mingo, Penn State got double-digit scoring from Stewart (17), Eli Rice (13), and Josh Reed (10). Stewart’s second-half surge was a positive, and Rice hit a big three that briefly gave the Nittany Lions life.
But the same issues that have plagued this team all season showed up again - particularly on the glass. Maryland outrebounded Penn State 39-21, including a 12-4 edge in offensive boards.
Those second-chance opportunities turned into 16 points for the Terps. Jurić, who’s shown flashes this year, managed just one rebound in 23 minutes.
That’s not going to cut it in the Big Ten.
Lineup Notes
Mingo returned to the starting five alongside Stewart, Rice, Reed, and Jurić. With Dilione and Mingo both cleared to play, head coach Mike Rhoades was able to go nine deep, getting minutes from Melih Tunca, Saša Ciani, and Justin Houser, who made his sixth appearance of the season. Forward Tibor Mirtič remained out with a knee injury, while freshman Reggie Grodin continues to redshirt.
What’s Next
Penn State will try to regroup before hosting Wisconsin in the Return to Rec game on Jan. 22.
The Badgers are rolling, winners of four straight and sitting near the top of the Big Ten standings. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. on FS1.
If the Nittany Lions want to get off the mat in conference play, they’ll need to bring more than just effort. They’ll need answers - especially on the defensive end - and a way to close the gap on the boards. Because as Sunday showed, even a strong second half isn’t enough when you dig yourself a 30-point hole.