The Ohio State basketball program has struggled to stack good wins throughout the course of the season. Coming into their game against USC, they didn't have a single Quad 1 win. That, along with the failure to make the NCAA Tournament in any of the last three seasons, has put pressure on the Buckeyes.
USC is a team that is also on the bubble, but they were in better shape coming into the Schott than the Ohio State Buckeyes were. Both teams needed a win, but Ohio State could not afford a loss. A loss at home to the Trojans would have ended any chances of making the NCAA Tournament.
After the first half, the Bucekyes found themselves in a three-point hole. That was mainly due to a poor shooting performance from beyond the 3-point arc and porous defense. They were able to fix that in the second half, and Ohio State won the game 89-82.
Ohio State basketball team avoids choke-job vs USC
Ohio State was up 78-69 with under four minutes left, and it looked like they were going to cruise to a victory. However, the Buckeyes started missing shots and turning the ball over, putting the Trojans right back in it. Bruce Thornton sealed it up at the end by hitting some free throws, and he finished with 21 points.
In this game, Thornton became the fifth all-time leading scorer in the history of the Ohio State Buckeyes. He has had a great career, and he will be fondly remembered once he leaves at season's end. The one thing missing on his resume is an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Ohio State kept its March Madness hopes alive by winning this game. A loss would have been the final nail in the coffin. Even so, it is still an uphill battle for the Buckeyes to get a bid. They still have no Quad 1 wins, even after getting this victory.
Getting a quality win or two down the stretch is necessary for them to play meaningful basketball in March for the first time in years.