Ohio State
16-13,8-10Big Ten
USC
14-14,6-11Big Ten
Buckeyes Hold on for a Key 87-82 Road Win at USC
2/27/2025 2:19:00 AM | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – A hot shooting start and a clutch play by Devin Royal in the final minute was enough to lift Ohio State past USC 87-82 on Wednesday night in Los Angeles.
The loss snapped a three-game losing streak and improved the Buckeyes to 16-13 overall and 8-10 in Big Ten play.
Bruce Thornton and Micah Parrish each finished with 20 points. Thornton also dished out five assists with zero turnovers. Parrish had three assists and a pair of steals, including a big one in the final minute.
Freshman John Mobley Jr. made three more three-pointers and finished with 18 points. Royal, who was hamstrung with foul trouble most of the night, still finished with 13 points and a team high five rebounds. His three-point play with 41 seconds remaining in a tie game proved to be the difference.
Both teams shot extremely well as the Trojans were 60 percent from the floor while the Buckeyes finished at 54 percent. Because of that, there were just 39 total rebounds in the game.
The Buckeyes came out of the gate on fire. They made 14 of their first 17 shots, including their first six three-pointers and raced to a 36-21 lead. USC also shot nearly 55 percent in the opening half, but the Buckeyes kept pace on their end and would lead 52-38 at the break.
USC used an 11-3 run early in the second half to trim the lead to just five at 67-62 with just over 10 minutes to play. Parrish knocked-down a big three-point right in front of the bench with 9:17 to go to keep the Buckeyes in front 72-65. But that would be the final Buckeye field goal until Royal’s spinning finish in the lane with 41 seconds left. Thornton made six free throws and Royal added two himself over the final seven minutes, but that allowed USC to pull all the way even at 80-80 with a minute left.
Royal scored after a timeout to put the Buckeyes up three and then Parrish made a nice defensive play to cut off a drive and create a steal. The Buckeyes then made 4-of-6 free throws down the stretch to hold on for the key win.
Up Next
The Buckeyes will return home and have five days off before taking on Nebraska next Tuesday evening at Value City Arena. Tip-off is set 9 p.m.
