Second-ranked Michigan withstood a competitive first half from Maryland before pulling away for a 101-83 victory at Xfinity Center on Saturday night. The Wolverines improved to 10-0, while the Terps suffered a setback with star center Pharrel Payne exiting due to a foot injury late in the first half. Maryland guard David Coit led all scorers with 31 points on 8-of-12 three-point shooting.
Maryland gave No. 2 Michigan its toughest challenge in a month, leading by five at halftime in a back-and-forth affair at Xfinity Center. The Terps shot efficiently early, but the loss of Pharrel Payne shifted the momentum. Payne, who ranks eighth in the Big Ten in scoring and rebounding, provided rim protection and physicality that Maryland couldn't replicate without him.
Michigan coach Dusty May acknowledged Payne's impact postgame: "He's a dangerous player. Praying that he has this just [a minor injury]. But he's a warrior. He's a winner." May noted the injury as a "fortuitous break," adding, "When you take Payne off their team, their rim protection and their physicality aren't going to be the same."
Without Payne, Maryland relied on senior guard David Coit, a Kansas transfer, who erupted for a game-high 31 points, including 8-of-12 from beyond the arc. Coit exchanged trash talk with Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg, who countered with 29 points. Lendeborg described the matchup: "Well, he was pretty much a one-man army throughout the whole game, once Pharrel got injured. So honestly, my whole game thing was not letting him test the ball at all."
Michigan adjusted in the second half, improving ball pressure and challenging catches, as May explained: "Our assistant coaches huddled at halftime and talked about a couple of different coverages... It was just harder for Coit to get his catches." The Wolverines, coming off wins over No. 21 Auburn and No. 12 Gonzaga, maintained composure amid physical play. May praised Maryland's effort: "These guys play hard. They're physical... I thought Maryland played hard."
The final score didn't reflect the game's closeness, but Michigan's size and execution secured the win, extending their unbeaten streak.
