On Wednesday, the Ohio State Buckeyes secured an 87-82 victory over the USC Trojans in a highly competitive matchup at the Galen Center in Los Angeles.
This marked the first meeting between the two teams since 1997, when Ohio State claimed a 79-73 win. With this latest result, the Buckeyes now hold a 5-3 record against the Trojans. Both teams entered the game on three-game losing streaks, making a victory crucial for momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.
Ohio State established a strong lead in the first half, concluding the period ahead 52-38. Ohio State shot at 73.1 percent from the field and 88.9 percent from beyond the arc in that time.
USC shot 54.5 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range in the first half. By halftime, Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton led all scorers with 14 points and contributed three assists. Guard Micah Parrish added 13 points and three assists.
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For USC, junior guard Desmond Claude led with eight points, one assist, and two rebounds by intermission.
Determined to turn the game around, USC came out with renewed energy in the second half holding Ohio State without a field goal for over nine minutes.
Freshman guard Wesley Yates III and grad student forward Rashaun Agee sparked an early surge, helping the Trojans chip away at the deficit. Yates, who had been relatively quiet in the first half, found his rhythm, scoring eight points in a five-minute span.
By the 11:33 mark, USC had narrowed the score to 67-61, putting them within striking distance. The Trojans outscored Ohio State 44-35 in the second half, showing greater efficiency and ball movement.
The turning point came in the final two minutes. At 4:14, Desmond Claude made a driving layup to cut the lead to just one point. With 1:07 left in regulation, Agee tied the game at 80 with a hook shot, shifting momentum completely in favor of the Trojans.
However, Ohio State quickly responded. Freshman forward Devin Royal hit a turnaround jumper and converted a pair of free throws, giving the Buckeyes a narrow lead in the final minute.
USC had a chance to tie or take the lead, but Ohio State sealed the win with their late-game execution at the free-throw line. In the final 20 seconds, the Buckeyes converted five of six free throws, preventing USC from completing their comeback.
Following the game, USC head coach Eric Musselman addressed struggles the team had.
“We have to play way better at home. We have to play better basketball so people want to come watch us,” Musselman said.
Despite the loss, he praised Yates III, who led all scorers with 27 points.
“Wesley is a big part of what we are trying to do. He’s taken the opportunity and ran with it. He’s one of the best freshmen in the Big Ten, and I hope he is a big piece for us next year,” Musselman said.
With the loss, USC has dropped six of its last seven games and will look to bounce back against Oregon on March 1. Meanwhile, Ohio State improves to 16-13, hoping to build momentum as the postseason approaches
