USC Shows Its Grit in Resilient Win Over Maryland Despite Key Injuries
Eric Musselman isn’t exactly known for hiding his emotions, but Tuesday night’s postgame press conference felt different. There was a lightness to the USC head coach - a well-earned sense of pride after his Trojans, missing several key players, delivered one of their most balanced and gutsy performances of the season in an 88-71 win over Maryland.
This wasn’t just a bounce-back. It was a statement - one that came just days after being outclassed on the road by two top-15 Big Ten powerhouses in Michigan and Michigan State. The Trojans didn’t play a perfect game, but they played like a team that’s starting to understand its identity - even if that identity is constantly evolving.
Short-Handed, But Not Short on Fight
USC entered the game without Alijah Arenas, Rodney Rice, and Amarion Dickerson. Chad Baker-Mazara, the team’s veteran leader and top scorer, was limited to just eight minutes while dealing with a neck injury sustained against Minnesota. That’s four key rotation players either sidelined or severely limited - and yet, the Trojans still found a way to dominate.
“If you would’ve told us Nov. 1 that we were going to win a Big Ten game by double digits without those guys, that wouldn’t happen in our minds,” Musselman said postgame. “But it’s a resilient group. It’s a group that’s only worried about who’s suiting up.”
That next-man-up mentality was on full display.
Jordan Marsh Steals the Spotlight
Junior guard Jordan Marsh, who hadn’t started a single game this season, played like a man ready for the moment. He led all scorers with 20 points - a career-high - and did most of his damage in the second half. Marsh poured in 17 points after the break and added four assists, helping USC turn a narrow 42-41 halftime lead into a comfortable win.
He wasn’t alone. Five Trojans finished in double figures - the first time that’s happened since mid-December. Senior forward Ezra Ausar and sophomore forward Jacob Cofie chipped in 12 points apiece, while freshman Jerry Easter II and junior center Gabe Dynes rounded out the scoring surge.
Easter was especially efficient, shooting 83% from the field despite limited first-half minutes. Dynes, meanwhile, turned in one of his best performances in a USC uniform, scoring 10 points and grabbing a season-high eight rebounds. At 7-foot-5, his impact on the defensive end was just as important as his stat line.
“He alters shots and alters people from thinking about going [in the paint],” Musselman said.
Struggles from Deep, Success in the Paint
USC’s three-point shooting continues to be a work in progress - and that’s putting it kindly. The Trojans shot just above 30% from beyond the arc and were flirting with sub-20% territory early in the second half. The backcourt quartet of Kam Woods, Ryan Cornish, Jaden Brownell, and Terrance Williams II combined to shoot 1-for-11 from deep.
But what they lacked in perimeter efficiency, they made up for inside. USC scored 44 of its 88 points in the paint, attacking the rim with purpose and precision. For players like Ausar, Dynes, and Easter, the three-point line was more of a boundary than a weapon - none of them attempted a shot from beyond the arc.
That inside-out approach wasn’t just about playing to strengths - it was also about necessity. Maryland’s David Coit was doing everything he could to keep the Terrapins in the game, dropping 30 points for the third time this season. But USC’s ability to dominate the interior proved to be the difference.
Reinvention on the Fly
Injuries have forced Musselman and his staff to stay nimble, and Tuesday was another example of that adaptability. Kam Woods played 44 minutes against Minnesota.
Against Maryland? Just 22, mostly in the first half.
The game plan shifted, and the bench responded - putting up 46 points, the most since a win over San José State in November 2024.
“Every game’s got a different mismatch,” Musselman explained. “And it’s up to our staff to try to help figure out who and when can help us. And tonight, the bench did that.”
That flexibility has become a hallmark of Musselman’s second season in Los Angeles. Whether it’s due to injury or matchup, roles can change from game to game - and that’s by design.
“Just because someone has a great game tonight doesn’t mean that their role is going to be the same against Purdue,” he said.
Looking Ahead
There’s no time to rest. On Saturday, USC faces its biggest test of the season when it hosts No.
5 Purdue. The Boilermakers are rolling, undefeated in conference play, and loaded with talent.
But if Tuesday’s win showed us anything, it’s that this USC team doesn’t rattle easily.
They’re bruised, yes. But they’re also battle-tested - and maybe, just maybe, beginning to hit their stride.
One thing’s for sure: with Musselman at the helm and a locker room full of players willing to step up when called upon, the Trojans aren’t going quietly.