Maryland (6-5, 0-2 B1G) at #23/22 Virginia (8-1, 0-0 ACC)
December 20, 2025
6:00 PM ET
John Paul Jones Arena
ESPN
COLLEGE PARK, MD -- For the 185th time, Maryland and Virginia will meet on the hardwood as the Terps head to Charlottesville on Saturday to open up a four-game series with the Cavaliers.
The meeting and the series signify a re-launch of Maryland's longest running series against any team.
The game will tip at 6 PM and will be televised nationally on ESPN.
Rob Carlin will sit in for legendary Voice of the Terps
Johnny Holliday on the call for the Maryland Sports Radio Network alongside Chris Knoche.
Series History
- Some of the most storied games in program history have come against Virginia dating back to the 1912-13 season. Overall, Maryland holds a 108-76 record in the all-time series, but Virginia is 46-39 at home.
- This will be the first time since Nov. 28, 2018 that the two teams have met. That game was officially part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge with Virginia winning 76-71 at XFINITY Center.
- The series against Virginia also holds the distinction of being the final regular-season game Maryland played as a member of the ACC (both teams were charter members). The Terps outlasted No. 5 Virginia, 75-69, in overtime on March 9, 2014 to end the Cavaliers' 13-game winning streak. After losing the lead in the closing seconds of regulation, the Terps never trailed in the extra session in front of a sellout crowd of 17,950 in the XFINITY Center.
- Virginia was also the first game played in the iconic Cole Field House on Dec. 2, 1955 - a 67-55 win for the Terps as they dedicated one of college basketball's most historic venues.
- Following this year's meeting, the two rivals will meet next year at XFINITY Center. The series will return to Charlottesville in 2027-28 before coming back to College Park in 2028-29.
Nothing But Payne
- Pharrel Payne has been one of the top big men in the Big Ten and in the nation. He leads the Terps with 17.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. He ranks ninth in the Big Ten in scoring, third in field goal percentage, 14th in overall points, and third in made free throws. On the glass, he is ninth in the league for rebounds per game and fourth in offensive boards.
- Payne scored a career-high 30 points and had his second double-double of the season with 10 rebounds in the win over Wagner. The senior was 8-of-11 from the field and 14-of-20 at the free throw line. His 20 free throw attempts were two more than Wagner had as a team. Payne's 30/10 double-double was the first for a Terp since Jahmir Young did so against Ohio State in 2023.
Diggy, Diggy, Diggy Can't You See...
- Diggy Coit had himself a night in the win over Mount St. Mary's. The graduate guard scored 41 points to set a new XFINITY Center single-game scoring record. The previous XFINITY Center record was 39 by Diamond Stone in 2015 for Maryland and 39 by Jamison Battle of Minnesota in 2022.
- Coit scored 16 of Maryland's final 19 points in the last 6:27 of the second half including the game-tying three pointer to force overtime.
- Overall, Coit finished with a ridiculous stat line: 11-of-17 from the floor, 8-of-10 beyond the arc, and 11-of-11 at the free throw line. Dating back to 2004, Coit is just one of 14 players to shoot 64 percent or better from the floor with 8-or-more threes and 11-or-more made free throws.
- He earned Big Ten Player of the Week and USBWA National Player of the Week honors for the performance.
- Diggy Coit's 1,387 career points are 44th among active NCAA players.
- Among the top 14 players under 6-0 on the scoring list, the 5-foot-11 Coit has the fifth-most career points.
Palpable Buzz
- Buzz Williams was named head coach at Maryland on April 2, 2025 after re-building Texas A&M into a program that reached three consecutive NCAA Tournaments. For his career, he seeking to become one of just three NCAA Division I head coaches to post 100 career wins at four different institutions – Maryland Hall of Fame Coach Lefty Driesell and Steve Alford.
- Williams is one of 12 active Division I head coaches to win at least one NCAA Tournament game at three different programs. He's coached in 23 NCAA Tournament games, winning 12, both of which rank among the Top 25 among all Division I head coaches.
- In 2024-25, Buzz Williams earned his 100th win at Texas A&M with a 77-73 victory over Creighton (11/27). He joined Tennessee's Rick Barnes as the only head coaches to win 100+ games at three power conference schools.
Promotions
- The promotions start early and often for Maryland basketball so don't miss out on the excitement!
- Notable remaining games include the Pink Out against Purdue (Feb. 1), a Black Out against Ohio State (Feb. 5), and a Checker Flag Game against Illinois (Mar. 8).
- Full promotions and exclusive ticket deals can be found here.
