Ohio State holds off late USC rally to win 89-82

Buckeyes' Bruce Thornton scores 21 points, including key late free throws to seal victory

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The Ohio State Buckeyes held off a late rally by the USC Trojans to win 89-82 in a close game in Columbus. Ohio State led by as many as seven points in the second half, but USC cut the deficit to one before Thornton's layup and free throw in the final minute sealed the win for the Buckeyes.

Why it matters

This was an important Big Ten conference matchup between two teams looking to improve their NCAA Tournament resumes. The close nature of the game continues a trend for USC, who have now played 8 straight games decided by 7 points or fewer.

The details

Ohio State led 43-40 at halftime despite opening the game just 2-of-13 from the free throw line. But Bruce Thornton steadied the Buckeyes in the second half, scoring 21 points and becoming the 5th player in program history to reach 1,935 career points. Ohio State built a 67-60 lead with 8 minutes left, but USC answered with a 7-0 run to make it a one-point game. The Buckeyes were able to hold on down the stretch, with Thornton hitting a key layup and free throw in the final minute.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.

The players

Bruce Thornton

A senior guard for Ohio State who scored 21 points, including key late free throws to seal the win. He became the 5th player in program history to reach 1,935 career points.

Alijah Arenas

A junior guard for USC who scored a team-high 25 points in the loss.

Devin Royal

A sophomore forward for Ohio State who scored 19 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.

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What they’re saying

“We must find a way to close out these close games. Our guys fought hard, but we came up just short against a very good Ohio State team.”

— Andy Enfield, USC Head Coach (latimes.com)

What’s next

USC will look to bounce back on Saturday when they host Oregon, while Ohio State will try to build on this win when they travel to face Michigan State next week.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the fine line between winning and losing in college basketball, as USC's streak of 8 straight games decided by 7 points or fewer continued. Both teams will need to find ways to win these close contests as they push for NCAA Tournament bids.