Eric Boggs
Ohio State entered Wednesday night knowing that protecting home court against fellow NCAA Tournament hopeful USC was essential to its postseason outlook, and the Buckeyes responded. Powered by standout efforts from Bruce Thornton and Devin Royal, Ohio State secured an 89-82 victory over USC at the Schottenstein Center, improving to 16-8 overall and 8-6 in Big Ten play while bolstering its tournament case.
Thornton orchestrated the offense with authority, finishing with 21 points and eight assists, while Royal delivered one of his most efficient outings of the season, scoring 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting and grabbing a team-high seven rebounds. John Mobley Jr. added 13 points and freshman forward Amare Bynum contributed 11, giving the Buckeyes balanced production against a USC team that arrived motivated and dangerous. Guard Alijah Arenas led the Trojans with 25 points, supported by four teammates who also reached double figures, but Ohio State’s timely execution ultimately proved decisive.
The game began inauspiciously for the Buckeyes, who opened just 2-of-12 from the field and quickly fell into a nine-point deficit as USC capitalized with a 6-0 run fueled entirely by free throws. Trailing 15-6, Ohio State found life through Thornton and Taison Chatman, who combined to spark a 9-0 run that erased the gap and settled the home crowd. For much of the remainder of the half, neither side could create separation, trading baskets and momentum as both teams probed for defensive weaknesses.
USC briefly gained a two-possession advantage late in the half, but Royal answered with a tough step-back jumper, and Thornton closed the period with a clutch floater to trim the deficit to 43-40 at the break. Despite the slow start, Ohio State had reestablished rhythm and confidence heading into the second half.
That momentum carried over after intermission. Royal attacked early with strong finishes at the rim, and a combination of scoring from Christoph Tilly, Thornton and Puff Johnson fueled a 9-0 run that put Ohio State in front 54-49. Bynum then ignited the arena with back-to-back highlight dunks, one off an inbound and another in transition, injecting energy that visibly shifted control to the Buckeyes.
Mobley followed with consecutive three-pointers to extend the lead, and Royal added an and-one finish that stretched the margin further. Even when USC mounted its push, Ohio State repeatedly produced timely responses. After the Trojans trimmed the deficit to one in the closing minutes, Thornton delivered the game’s defining sequence, finishing a scoop layup through contact to create breathing room before calmly sealing the win with four free throws in the final seconds.
The victory carried added historical significance for Thornton, who passed Kelvin Ransey for fifth place on Ohio State’s all-time scoring list with 1,950 career points. Puff Johnson’s return from injury also provided a boost, as he chipped in eight points and spacing on the perimeter. As a team, Ohio State’s precision at the free-throw line stood out; the Buckeyes shot 96 percent, their best performance at the stripe since a perfect 20-for-20 outing against Maryland in March 2023.
With the win, Ohio State improved to 6-3 all-time against USC and strengthened its standing in the tightly packed NCAA Tournament bubble race. The Buckeyes now turn their attention to a neutral-site challenge against No. 15 Virginia in Nashville, another opportunity to secure a résumé-building result as March approaches.
