In a thrilling basketball showdown on Wednesday night, Ohio State snapped its three-game losing streak by narrowly defeating USC with a score of 87-82 in Los Angeles. Both Micah Parrish and Bruce Thornton played pivotal roles in the victory for Ohio State, each contributing 20 points to the scoreboard.
Ohio State’s overall performance was bolstered by John Mobley Jr., who added 18 points, and Devin Royal, who chipped in 13 points. This win improved their record to 16-13 overall and 8-10 in the Big Ten Conference. On the opposing side, USC saw a valiant effort from Wesley Yates III who scored 27 points, with Chibuzo Agbo and Desmond Claude complementing the scoreboard with 17 and 12 points, respectively.
The game saw USC rally from a halftime deficit of 52-36. As the clock ticked down, Rashaun Agee’s crucial jump shot with just over a minute remaining tied the contest at 80-80. However, Ohio State’s Devin Royal made a decisive play soon after. Driving towards the baseline, he spun into the lane, successfully banking a shot while drawing a foul from Sean Stewart, pushing Ohio State into the lead with 56 seconds left on the clock. His free throw ensured the Buckeyes stayed ahead until the final buzzer.
In the first half, Ohio State showcased an impressive 73.1% shooting accuracy, including a remarkable 88.9% from 3-point range, and they converted 75% of their free throws. Notably, Thornton scored 14 points, Parrish delivered 13, and Mobley added 11 before halftime. Following the break, USC attempted a comeback with a strong shooting performance, making 15 out of their 23 attempts at a rate of 65.2%.
With this defeat, USC’s record fell to 14-14 overall and 6-11 within their conference, marking the Trojans’ fourth consecutive loss and sixth in seven games. Looking ahead, Ohio State is set to host Nebraska on Tuesday, while USC will be hitting the road to face Oregon on Saturday.
