Preview: Maryland basketball set for lone matchup vs. USC in 2025-26

Ahmed Ghafir
8 minutes ago
2 min read

Maryland (7-9, 0-5) vs. USC (13-3, 2-3)

When & Where: Jan 13, 2026 | 10:30 PM ET (7:30 PM PT) | Galen Center

TV: FS1 | Aaron Goldsmith (pxp), Miles Simon (analyst)

Radio: One Maryland App | 105.7 FM (Baltimore) | 980 AM (DC) | SiriusXM channel 389

Betting: Maryland +9.5 | O/U 149.5 (DraftKings)

Maryland men's basketball is set for its second and final game of the West Coast swing when they take on USC on Tuesday night in the lone matchup between the two teams.

Tuesday also won't mark a reunion against one of the original 'Crab Five' members with former Maryland and current USC guard Rodney Rice ruled out for the remainder of the 2025-26 season due to a shoulder injury, a blow for the Trojans after Rice averaged 20.3 points across his six games this season.

USC watched a double digit lead evaporate against Minnesota on Friday night before Chad Baker-Mazara took over down the stretch en route to a 70-69 overtime win. The win marked the end of a two-game slide after USC fell by 30 against then-second ranked Michigan and 29 against 12th-ranked Michigan State within a four-day span, while Washington handed the Trojans their first loss of the season back on Dec. 6.

Baker-Mazara enters Tuesday as one of two players averaging double figures alongside senior forward Ezra Ausar. USC will look to get back Alijah Arenas, son of Wizards legend Gilbert Arenas, on the court this month to boost the backcourt, but head coach Eric Musselman announced the freshman would be unavailable for tonight's game.

Maryland will hope to get similar injury news soon with Pharrel Payne still expected to be sidelined on Tuesday night after he battles back from a knee injury suffered vs. Michigan, though head coach Buzz Williams has yet to publicly confirm any timeframe.

In Payne's absence, Maryland has dropped four of their last five games, all losses by ten points or more, with head coach Buzz Williams still winless in conference play.

Maryland is looking to avoid its first 0-6 start in conference play since 1988-89 with Williams looking to avoid the program's third losing season since COVID.

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