Get ready for a basketball showdown that’s as rare as it is thrilling! Maryland’s Terrapins are kicking off the Players Era Championship Tournament against UNLV on Monday, November 24, 2025, in a game that’s already buzzing with anticipation. But here’s where it gets controversial: the tip-off is set for 12:00 AM ET (9:00 PM PT), which technically means East Coast fans will be cheering into Tuesday morning. Is this a scheduling quirk or a strategic move? You decide.
Fresh off a thrilling 95-90 overtime win against Mount St. Mary’s, Maryland (4-1) heads to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas to face UNLV (3-2) in a matchup that hasn’t happened in nearly four decades. The last time these teams met, it was under the legendary coaches Jerry Tarkanian (UNLV) and Lefty Driesell (Maryland), making this game a nod to basketball history. And this is the part most people miss: their final meeting in the NCAA Tournament marked the last game for Maryland icon Len Bias and Coach Driesell.
Diggy Coit stole the show in Maryland’s last game, dropping 41 points to set a new XFINITY Center scoring record. But it wasn’t just the points—it was how he did it. Coit scored 16 of Maryland’s final 19 points, including a game-tying three-pointer to force overtime. His stat line? A jaw-dropping 11-of-17 from the field, 8-of-10 from three-point range, and a perfect 11-of-11 from the free-throw line. Since 2004, only 14 players have achieved such efficiency with that volume of shots. Coit’s 1,316 career points rank him 37th among active NCAA players, just behind former Terp Ja’Kobi Gillespie (1,330). At 5-foot-11, he’s also among the top scorers under 6-0, proving size isn’t everything.
But here’s the real question: Can Maryland’s momentum carry them past UNLV and into a deep tournament run? With Coach Buzz Williams at the helm, the Terps have a leader who’s rebuilt programs and reached NCAA Tournaments at multiple schools. Williams is on the cusp of becoming one of only three coaches to achieve 100 career wins at four different institutions. His resume is impressive, but can he turn Maryland into a consistent contender? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
After UNLV, Maryland faces No. 13 Gonzaga on Tuesday at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET), making it a grueling back-to-back by East Coast time. The last time an NCAA team played twice in one day was in 2008 due to a tornado—talk about rare! For Maryland, the only recorded instance was in 1930, when they played Johns Hopkins and VMI on the same day.
Milestones are on the horizon for several Terps. David Coit, Saunders, and Washington are all on track to play their 100th career games this season, while Pharrel Payne (992 career points) and Myles Rice are closing in on the 1,000-point mark. Payne already hit his milestone at Marquette, but can he reach quadruple digits in a Maryland uniform?
Off the court, Maryland’s promotions are heating up. Don’t miss the Red Out against Michigan (Dec. 13), the Pink Out against Purdue (Feb. 1), the Black Out against Ohio State (Feb. 5), and the Checker Flag Game against Illinois (Mar. 8). Full details and ticket deals are available on the official Maryland Terrapins website.
As the Terps step into the Players Era Tournament, the stakes are higher than ever. Will they rise to the occasion, or will UNLV spoil their debut? One thing’s for sure: this tournament is just getting started, and Maryland is right in the thick of it. What’s your prediction? Let the debate begin!
