LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — A dominant second-half performance fueled by a decisive edge in the paint and a cascade of Maryland turnovers propelled Southern California to an 88-71 victory in a nonconference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at Galen Center.

The Trojans, improving to 14-3, used a 46-point second half to pull away from the Terrapins, who fell to 6-10. The game was part of the Big Ten Conference’s scheduling alliance.

Maryland, led by a game-high 30 points from guard David Coit, hung tough in a high-paced first half. The teams traded leads and entered halftime separated by just a single point, with Southern California ahead 42-41. Coit, a junior from Columbus, New Jersey, was the engine for the Terrapins, scoring 17 before the break.

The contest turned decisively in the opening minutes of the second period. Southern California established an overwhelming interior presence, outscoring Maryland 44-14 in the paint for the game. The Trojans’ size and athleticism, led by 7-foot-5 center Gabe Dynes and 6-foot-9 forward Ezra Ausar, created easy baskets and second-chance opportunities. Southern California grabbed 11 offensive rebounds to Maryland’s two, leading to a 15-4 advantage in second-chance points.

Concurrently, Maryland’s offense, which managed just a 100.2 offensive rating, sputtered under intense defensive pressure. The Terrapins committed 12 turnovers, which the opportunistic Trojans converted into 15 points. Southern California, by contrast, had only six turnovers. This combination of efficient interior scoring and points off mistakes allowed the Trojans to steadily build a double-digit lead, stretching a one-point halftime edge to 17 by the final buzzer.

Southern California’s offensive balance proved too much for Maryland to counter. While Coit shouldered the load for the Terps, five Trojans scored in double figures, led by guard Jordan Marsh’s 20 points and four assists in just 24 minutes off the bench. Marsh, a Monroe, North Carolina native, was instrumental in the second-half surge, scoring 16 after halftime and facilitating the offense.

Forwards Jacob Cofie and Ezra Ausar each added 12 points and four assists, with Cofie contributing two blocks. Dynes and guard Jerry Easter each chipped in 10 points. The Trojans shot 51.5% from the field and posted an offensive rating of 128.3, a mark of high efficiency.

For Maryland, beyond Coit’s 30-point effort on 8-of-22 shooting, backcourt mate Darius Adams provided 11 points. No other Terrapin reached double figures. The team struggled from the floor, shooting 43.8%, and managed only four total assists against their 12 turnovers, highlighting a stagnant offensive flow.

The most critical sequence of the game occurred early in the second half, extinguishing Maryland’s hopes. With Southern California leading 48-46, the Trojans embarked on a 12-2 run over a three-minute span. The surge was emblematic of the game’s themes: it featured two layups by Ausar, a tip-in dunk by Dynes off an offensive board, and a fast-break layup by Jerry Easter following a Maryland turnover. This burst pushed the lead to 60-48, and the Terrapins, who have now lost four straight and eight of their last ten, never recovered, never cutting the deficit below nine points the rest of the way.

Southern California’s defense was particularly effective in limiting Maryland’s transition game, holding the Terps to just one fast-break point while scoring 11 of their own. The Trojans also protected the rim with five blocks.

The announced attendance at Galen Center was 4,586. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Southern California entered the game with a 66.1% probability to win. The total score of 159 points went under the pregame over/under line of 149.

Maryland returns to Big Ten play Sunday at home against Penn State. Southern California continues its challenging conference slate, hosting No. 3-ranked Purdue on Saturday.