USC Trojans Defeat Ohio State Buckeyes in Top 10 Showdown

LOS ANGELES, California – The No. 7 USC Trojans triumphed over the No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes in an intense Big Ten matchup on Saturday night, securing an 84-63 victory at the Galen Center.

In front of an excited crowd, USC dominated the glass, out-rebounding Ohio State 62-30 and tallying 10 blocked shots. The Trojans, now 21-2 overall and 11-1 in Big Ten play, improved their standing while pushing the Buckeyes to 20-3 and 9-3 in the conference.

USC’s success was driven by senior forward Kiki Iriafen, who dropped 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Sophomore star JuJu Watkins finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds, rebounding from a slow start. Freshman guard Kennedy Smith also contributed a double-double with 13 points and 13 boards.

“Our team played with great intensity and focus tonight,” Iriafen said. “We knew how important this game was, and we were ready.”

Ohio State started the game strongly, forcing five turnovers in the first minutes and holding USC without a score for four minutes. However, the Buckeyes struggled offensively, maintaining only a three-point lead before the Trojans found their rhythm.

By halftime, USC held a 34-26 edge, as they began to impose their will in the second quarter. The Buckeyes attempted to rally in the third quarter but could only reduce the deficit to single digits. Their efforts were thwarted by a quick 7-0 run from USC, which pushed the lead to 14 points.

Ohio State’s shooting woes continued, finishing the night shooting only 29% from the field and just 2-of-11 from beyond the arc. Taylor Thierry led the Buckeyes with 14 points, while Cotie McMahon added 13 and Chance Gray contributed 12 points.

“We showed promise on defense early, but we couldn’t maintain our composure when it counted,” Buckeyes head coach Kevin McGuff said. “We have to regroup and learn from this game.”

USC’s victory comes as they gear up for a pivotal rivalry match against top-ranked UCLA on February 13, while Ohio State prepares to return home to face Minnesota next week.

With just under a month remaining before the conference tournaments, the implications of this game on seeding are significant as teams ramp up their competition levels in pursuit of postseason glory.