The Ohio State Buckeyes secured a crucial 89-82 win over the Southern California Trojans, with Bruce Thornton leading the charge with 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists. This victory marked the Buckeyes' 16th win of the season, improving their record to 16-8. The Southern California Trojans, on the other hand, fell to 18-7. With 49 points scored in the second half, the Buckeyes outpaced the Trojans' 39 points in the same period, ultimately securing a 7-point win.
Bruce Thornton's 8 Assists Lead Ohio State to Victory
The game was closely contested, with the Southern California Trojans taking a 43-40 lead into halftime. However, the Ohio State Buckeyes came out strong in the second half, scoring 49 points to the Trojans' 39. The Buckeyes' Devin Royal contributed 19 points and 7 rebounds, while John Mobley Jr. added 13 points to the team's total. The Trojans' Alijah Arenas put up an impressive 25 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Buckeyes' second-half surge. With 8 assists, Bruce Thornton played a crucial role in facilitating the Buckeyes' offense, which shot 51.7% from the field. The Trojans, meanwhile, shot 45.8% from the field, with Kam Woods and Ezra Ausar contributing 14 and 13 points, respectively.
The top performers for the Ohio State Buckeyes were Bruce Thornton, who scored 21 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and dished out 8 assists, and Devin Royal, who contributed 19 points and 7 rebounds. John Mobley Jr. also had a notable performance, scoring 13 points. For the Southern California Trojans, Alijah Arenas led the way with 25 points, while Kam Woods added 14 points and 6 rebounds. Ezra Ausar also had a strong game, scoring 13 points and grabbing 9 rebounds. With these performances, the Buckeyes and Trojans demonstrated their depth and talent, with 5 players scoring in double figures.
CHD Scout Report Card
CORRECTPredicted
Final
The Ohio State Buckeyes shot 51.7% from the field, including 35.7% from three-point range, while the Southern California Trojans shot 45.8% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range. The Buckeyes also outrebounded the Trojans 36-32, with Devin Royal and Bruce Thornton combining for 13 rebounds. The Trojans committed 12 turnovers, compared to the Buckeyes' 10, which ultimately contributed to their 7-point loss. With 21 points, Bruce Thornton led all scorers, and his 8 assists were the most in the game.
The CHD Scout predicted an Ohio State victory by 3.5 points, with a predicted score of 79-76. The actual result was an 89-82 win for the Buckeyes, with a 7-point margin. This means the CHD Scout was correct in predicting the winner, but the margin was slightly larger than expected. The predicted score was also lower than the actual total, with both teams scoring more points than anticipated. With this win, the Buckeyes improved to 16-8, while the Trojans fell to 18-7, and the CHD Scout demonstrated its ability to accurately predict the outcome of the game.
This win was a Quadrant 2 victory for the Ohio State Buckeyes, who improved their NET ranking to 41. The Southern California Trojans, on the other hand, suffered a Quadrant 1 loss, which could impact their tournament seeding. With a current NET ranking of 49, the Trojans must regroup and focus on their upcoming games to strengthen their resume. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, want to build on this momentum, having secured a crucial win against a strong opponent. As the season progresses, this win could be a key factor in the Buckeyes' tournament hopes, particularly given their 16-8 record.
The Ohio State Buckeyes will face their next opponent on a date to be determined, while the Southern California Trojans want to bounce back from this loss in their upcoming game. With the regular season nearing its end, both teams must stay focused and motivated to achieve their goals. The Buckeyes will aim to build on this win, while the Trojans will seek to regroup and regain their momentum.