Ohio State
15-13,7-10Big Ten
UCLA
20-8,11-6Big Ten
Buckeyes Battle Bruins in 69-61 Setback in LA
2/23/2025 7:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Ohio State wasn't 100 percent but it battled on Sunday at UCLA. However, the Buckeyes couldn't quite pull even as the Bruins held on for a 69-61 victory on Bill Walton Day at Pauley Pavilion.
Junior guard Bruce Thornton recorded his 11th 20-point game of the season as he led the Buckeyes with 21 points and three assists. Micah Parrish was a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line and finished with 12 points while pulling down a team-high seven rebounds.
Freshman guard John Mobley Jr. has been battling an illness and played just 22 minutes, but made a pair of three pointers and swiped three steals.
Ques Glover had a solid game filling in for Mobley Jr. as he finished with seven points and two assists. He also recorded his second block of this season.
The Buckeyes shot a season worst 31.7 percent but didn't allow UCLA to get anything easy on its end. Eric Dailey Jr. led the Bruins with 20 points.
The first half was a struggle for both teams. Ohio State shot just 25 percent, and UCLA was only at 31 percent. Thornton paced the Buckeyes with 10 points and Dailey Jr. had 11 for the Bruins who held a 28-24 lead.
The Buckeyes came out of the break and a Mobley Jr. three-pointer knifed the lead the one, but UCLA would score eight points to take a 39-30 lead. Ohio State responded with the next seven points but then UCLA went on a 7-0 run to regain a 48-40 lead with 10 minutes to play.
The lead grew to double digits and the Bruins were able to keep the Buckeyes at bay down the stretch.
Up Next
The Buckeyes remain in LA and will play at USC on Wednesday evening. Tip-off is set for 10:30 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on BTN.
