Ohio State, looking to rebound from their worst loss of the season, hosted USC for the first time since 1997. After falling behind by nine early and trailing by three at halftime, the Buckeyes played much improved in the second half, ultimately earning a gritty home win, sending USC home with an 89-82 defeat. Ohio State improved to 16–8 overall and 8–6 in conference play, while USC’s three-game winning streak came to an end as they slipped to 18–7, 7–7.
The Buckeyes seized control midway through the second half and withstood a late Trojan surge to earn an important home victory over a fellow NCAA tournament bubble team. Free-throw shooting was a key factor, as Ohio State made 24 of 25 attempts, including several clutch shots down the stretch to keep USC at bay. Overall, Ohio State shot 50% from the field (60% in the second half), connecting on 7 of 22 from three, while limiting USC to 42% overall and just 34% after halftime. The Trojans were solid at the line themselves, making 24 of 33. The Buckeyes dished out 14 assists on 29 made baskets and flipped the script inside in the second half, outscoring USC 18–14 in the paint after trailing 16–8 in the first half, while also holding a 16–14 edge from the bench.
Bruce Thornton, who passed Kelvin Ransey for fifth all-time in Ohio State scoring, led the team with 21 points, six rebounds, and eight assists while hitting all 11 free throws. Devin Royal added 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting along with seven rebounds. John Mobley contributed 13, and Amare Bynum chipped in 11. USC was led by Alijah Arenas with a game-high 25 points, while Kam Woods scored 14. Ezra Ausar and Jordan Marsh each had 12, and Jacob Cofie added 12 in the loss.
1st Half
USC came out of the gates hot, outscoring Ohio State 11–4 over the first four minutes. The Buckeyes’ only early points came on a Devin Royal bucket from the right block and two free throws from Christoph Tilly as Ohio State started just 1-of-8 from the floor, including 0-for-5 from three-point range.
Following the first media timeout, USC added two more free throws before Royal knocked down a 15-footer to snap the Trojans’ 6–0 run. After a USC basket, Taison Chatman answered with a three, and moments later Bruce Thornton was fouled in transition, converting both free throws. On the ensuing possession, Puff Johnson poked the ball loose, leading to a runout score by Thornton, trimming the deficit to 15–13 at the under-12 timeout.
Chatman knocked down a 15-footer out of the timeout to tie the game, but USC answered with a jumper to halt the 9–0 Buckeye run. Amare Bynum then scored in transition to knot things up again, and on the defensive end he poked the ball loose to give possession back to Ohio State. The Buckeyes capitalized when Thornton connected on a 10-foot jumper, giving them their first lead of the night.
USC responded with a three-point possession on its next trip, but Royal answered with a dunk to put Ohio State back in front. The Trojans then buried a three on the ensuing possession to carry a 23–21 advantage into the under-8 media timeout.
Out of the timeout, USC went to the line and split a pair, but Ohio State answered as John Mobley knocked down a jumper while drawing contact, completing the three-point play to tie the game. USC broke the deadlock with a jumper from just above the foul line, but Gabe Cupps responded on the other end with a dribble drive that he finished off the glass.
Following another Trojan basket, Puff Johnson converted two free throws, and USC countered by splitting a pair to move back in front. The Trojans added another bucket before Bynum took a pass from Chatman and buried a three, tying the game yet again. USC regained the lead at the stripe, splitting two free throws, then added another field goal to carry a 34–31 advantage into the under-4 media timeout.
A questionable foul just before the timeout sent USC back to the line, where the Trojans converted both free throws. Royal stopped the 5–0 USC spurt with a 12-footer, and Mobley followed by knocking down a pair at the stripe to trim the deficit to one. USC responded with a three, but Mobley answered with another jumper to keep it close.
The Trojans scored again on the other end, and Ivan Njegovan split a pair of free throws on the Buckeyes’ next possession. USC then pushed the lead in transition before Ohio State used a 30-second timeout. Out of the break, Thornton scored in the middle of the lane just before the buzzer, sending the teams to the locker room with USC holding a 43–40 advantage.
Ohio State shot 42% from the field in the first half and struggled from beyond the arc, going just 2-of-13, while USC connected at a 52% clip, including 3-of-8 from three-point range. The Buckeyes were efficient at the free-throw line, hitting 10 of 11, though the Trojans were solid there as well, converting 12 of 16 attempts.
Ohio State held a slight 16–15 edge on the glass, but USC controlled the paint by a 16–8 margin. Devin Royal and Bruce Thornton paced the Buckeyes with eight points apiece as all 9 Buckeyes to see action found the scoring column, while USC was led by Ezra Ausar with 11 and Jacob Cofie with 10.
2nd Half
Royal opened the second half scoring with a bucket off a dribble drive, and after USC answered with a pair of baskets, Tilly knocked down a three from the left point. A transition score by the Trojans was countered by a Royal turnaround jumper, and following a defensive stop, Thornton connected on a runner. By the under-16 media timeout, the game was knotted up at 49.
Ohio State moved back in front when Tilly knocked down two free throws and then stretched the lead as Johnson buried a three from the left corner. USC halted the Buckeyes’ 9–0 run with a pair of free throws, and following an Ohio State turnover, the Trojans converted a transition dunk to cut the margin to one.
The Buckeyes responded with Thornton finding Bynum for a dunk and after USC split a pair at the line, Ohio State pushed the ball quickly into the frontcourt, where Thornton again connected with a streaking Bynum for another dunk, giving the Buckeyes a 58–54 lead at the under-12 media timeout.
A wild runner from USC trimmed the lead, and after an Ohio State turnover, the Trojans split a pair of free throws to pull within one. The Buckeyes responded with Mobley knocking down a three from straight on at the top of the key. USC again split two at the line, but Mobley answered once more, drilling another three from the top.
USC came back with a bucket, though Thornton countered by lobbing to Royal, who finished through contact and converted the free throw to complete the three-point play, pushing Ohio State’s lead to seven. The Trojans answered with a dribble-drive score and added another runner to chip away at the margin, sending the teams to the under-8 media timeout with the Buckeyes leading 67–64.
Out of the timeout, with the shot clock winding down, Johnson buried a deep three from the left point to push the lead back to six. USC answered with five straight points before Tilly drove the lane and finished off the glass. Royal followed with a short jumper, and Thornton added two free throws to extend the margin. Moments later, Thornton came up with a steal that led to a Bynum transition dunk, forcing USC to call timeout with four minutes to play and Ohio State in front 78–69.
USC hit a pair of free throws on back-to-back possessions, with Royal sandwiched in between, hitting two of his own. On their next trip, USC made two of three free throws following a questionable foul, leaving Ohio State with a five-point lead and 2½ minutes remaining. After a Buckeye turnover, a USC three cut the margin to just two at the 2-minute mark, as the Trojans went on a 9–2 run.
Following a long delay due to clock issues, Thornton drew a foul and calmly sank both free throws. USC then knocked down a heavily contested three with a minute to go, cutting the lead to one, but Thornton answered by driving through contact for two and hitting the free throw to complete a three-point play. Another questionable foul sent USC to the line, where they split the pair. After grabbing the rebound, Thornton was fouled in the backcourt and converted both free throws to push the Buckeyes’ lead to five with 22 seconds left. USC then turned it over on a baffling behind-the-back pass, and Thornton was fouled once more, calmly knocking down two more free throws to seal the victory.
Game Wrap
Ohio State continues to show resilience in the face of adversity. The Buckeyes are now 8–0 following a loss, demonstrating an ability to quickly move on and refocus on the next challenge. Tonight, they overcame in-game struggles, starting sluggishly and falling behind by nine early, before rallying to take a second-half lead and holding off every USC push to secure a crucial home victory.
Defensively, the first half was a struggle, to put it mildly, but the second half told a different story. Ohio State effectively switched defenses, forcing USC to earn nearly every basket. Led by Bruce Thornton in every facet, the Buckeyes improved on the boards and moved the ball with greater efficiency offensively. The bench rotation, bolstered by Taison Chatman (5 points) and Puff Johnson (8 points), is providing more depth and making Ohio State tougher to guard in the halfcourt when the starters rest. Maintaining that bench production, along with stronger defense—which clearly improved after halftime—will be key down the stretch.
From a broader perspective, this game was a Quad 2 win, strengthening the resume, and a major opportunity awaits Saturday night in Nashville against Virginia. The challenge now is to string wins together; the Buckeyes have struggled to win more than two in a row since early in the season when facing mostly mid-major competition. While they remain on the NCAA tournament bubble for now, a win against Virginia would not only mark back-to-back victories but also help solidify their spot and set the stage for additional quality wins down the stretch. If they carry the momentum from tonight, Ohio State has a strong chance to return home with a big Quad 1 victory. It will be a quick turnaround, but the Buckeyes will be ready for the opportunity ahead.
Box Score
*Official statistics provided courtesy of The Ohio State University and Sidearm Sports.
Ohio State steps outside conference play for its next contest, facing 15th-ranked Virginia in Nashville as part of the Nashville Hoops Showdown on Saturday night. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m., with Fox providing the television coverage.
-Jason Harris