Preview: Maryland Terrapins at Southern California Trojans

LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — A stark contrast in trajectories will be on display Tuesday night when the struggling Maryland Terrapins visit the surging Southern California Trojans in a nonconference men’s basketball game at Galen Center.

The Terrapins (6-9) enter on a five-game losing streak, including a 67-55 defeat at UCLA on Saturday. Their season has been marred by offensive inconsistency, failing to reach 70 points in any of their last five contests. Maryland will lean on forward Elijah Saunders, who has been a bright spot, averaging 13.2 points over his last five games. He scored 17 points in the loss to the Bruins.

Conversely, the Trojans (13-3) are riding high after a dramatic 70-69 overtime road victory at Minnesota on Friday. That win showcased their resilience and their standout performer, guard Chad Baker-Mazara. He poured in 29 points and dished out eight assists while playing all 40 minutes against the Golden Gophers, cementing his status as USC’s primary offensive catalyst. Baker-Mazara is averaging 20.0 points over his last five outings.

This matchup, organized by the Big Ten, pits a Maryland team searching for answers against a USC squad with clear momentum. The Terrapins’ defense, which allowed UCLA to shoot 48% from the field, will face a stern test against Baker-Mazara and a Trojan offense averaging 80.1 points per game.

For Maryland, halting its skid will require more offensive support for Saunders. Darius Adams, who had 13 points against UCLA, is a candidate to provide a scoring lift. Southern California will look to control the tempo at home, where it is 8-1 this season, and avoid a letdown after an emotional road win.

The game tips off at 8 p.m. PST Tuesday at Galen Center. USC hosts Purdue on Saturday, while Maryland’s next game is at home against Penn State on Jan. 18.