COLLEGE PARK, Md — As Kevin Patton Jr.’s layup fell through the net and onto the court, the Trojan players looked to the scoreboard. The sophomore’s bucket brought them within three points of the Terps with just two and half minutes remaining in the first half. 

That was the closest the score had been since the first minute of the game and though it provided a glimmer of hope at the time, the score would never get that close again. 

No. 20 Maryland dominated the last two minutes of the first half carrying that momentum to the start of the second half going on a 22-5 scoring run that propelled the Terps to a 88-71 victory over the Trojans, Thursday night. 

“All our guys can go and create for themselves and others,” said Maryland’s sophomore guard Rodney Rice about the Terps starting five. “I like what’s going on right now.”

The run lasted for a shade under six minutes across the two halves and featured a sparkling display of shooting from the free throw line and the floor. Maryland (21-6, 11-5 Big Ten) made all but one of its free throws and made seven of its 11 attempts from the floor, providing the Terps with a 20 point cushion by the under 16 minute media timeout.

The Terps dominant performance didn’t do much to deter the Trojans from attempting a comeback.

Following the run, USC (14-12, 6-9 Big Ten) answered with its own 10-0 scoring run cutting Maryland’s advantage in half by the under 12 minute media timeout and pulled within six with under ten minutes to go. The Trojans’ continued to match every Maryland point with one of their own leaning on the shooting of graduate guard Clark Slajchert and the scoring of red shirt freshman Wesley Yates III. 

Slajchert shined during the ten minutes he played in the second half making three of his four attempts from beyond the arc after not appearing once in the first half. Yates added ten second half points to his 11 first half points and finished as the Trojans’ leading scorer with 21 points.

“32 [Slajchert] hit three big three’s and give them credit, [Musselman] isn’t going away,” head coach Kevin Willard said.    

The Terps mirrored the tactic leaning on its own perimeter duo of Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Rodney Rice. 

The guard duo scored a combined 26 points in the second half making eight of the 12 shots they attempted. Rice finished as the game’s leading scorer with 22 points — 15 of them coming in the second half — continuing a trend of scoring double digit points operating as Maryland’s go-to option coming out of halftime.  

“Rod’s been good all year,” said Willard. “… I knew he [was] a good player, but he’s so consistent every day.”

Gillespie was good throughout the game and ended as Maryland’s second leading scorer with 20 points. Gillespie was the go to option when the Terps needed a score from deep knocked down five 3-pointers throughout the game — tying his season high.

“I think he’s comfortable in the offense now,” said Willard. “I think he’s just gotten much more confident in what he could do, and he’s much more confident going into Big Ten games now.” 

The other three members of Maryland’s starting five — recently given the nickname “Crab Five” — played well to supplement their perimeter leaders. 

Julian Reese (19 points and 10 rebounds) and Derik Queen (13 points and 17 rebounds) each recorded a double-double for the fifth time this season. Selton Miguel scored 11 points in his 35 minutes despite making only one of his 3-point attempts.

The Terps finished the game shooting just under 50 percent from the floor and 40 percent from beyond the arc, rectifying an up and down first half performance. 

Maryland’s start was reminiscent of Sunday’s blowout against Iowa. 

The Terps opened the game on an 11-0 scoring run knocking down three 3-pointers in the process. Every starter — except for Queen — contributed to the run, before USC guard Chibuzo Agbo ended the momentum with a left wing three. 

From there, the Trojans methodically worked their way back into the game.

Yates led the way for USC scoring a then game high 11 points on five made shots. Yates made one of USC’s two made 3-pointers in the half which represented a poor shooting performance for the Big Ten’s sixth best 3-point shooting team. The Trojans’ shot making didn’t improve much as they moved within the 3-point line — shooting under 39 percent from the floor in the half.  

Maryland’s offense wasn’t much better. 

The Terps ended the half shooting under 40 percent from the floor and making four of their 12 attempted 3-pointers.

Despite their struggles from the floor, Maryland ended the half on a 7-0 scoring run that featured five made free throws and a dunk from Queen, giving the Terps a ten point advantage going into the break.  

Maryland’s fourth straight win ties its longest winning streak in conference play this season. The Terps are now 6-0 when their starters finish with double digit points and they’ve conquered the new California circuit defeating both UCLA and USC this season — both at home. 

Maryland’s next three games are its most important with matchups against the three teams ahead of them in the Big Ten standings. The Terps first test will come against No. 14 Michigan State on Wednesday.