COLUMBUS, Ohio (Interstat) — In a game defined by precision at the free throw line and a dominant second-half surge, Ohio State outlasted Southern California 89-82 in a non-conference men’s basketball matchup Wednesday night at Value City Arena.

A crowd of 11,367 saw the Buckeyes overcome a narrow halftime deficit by shooting a near-perfect 24 of 25 from the foul line, including a clinching 10 of 10 performance in the final 25 seconds, to secure the victory and improve to 16-8. Southern California, which led 43-40 at the break, fell to 18-7.

The most critical phase of the contest came late in the second half after the Trojans had clawed back from a double-digit deficit. With Ohio State leading 80-78 and under four minutes to play, the Buckeyes executed a decisive 9-2 run to seize control. The sequence was ignited by Bruce Thornton, who drew a foul and sank two free throws. On the ensuing possession, Thornton stole the ball and found Amare Bynum for a transition dunk. After Southern California’s Jordan Marsh split a pair of free throws, Ohio State’s Devin Royal was fouled and made both of his attempts from the line. The Buckeyes’ defense then forced a missed three-pointer, and Thornton capped the run with a driving layup and a free throw to extend the lead to 89-80 with 40 seconds left, effectively sealing the outcome.

Thornton, a guard from Fairburn, Georgia, led all scorers with 21 points and added eight assists, orchestrating the Ohio State offense throughout the night. His backcourt mate, John Mobley of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, contributed 13 points. Forward Devin Royal, a local product from Pickerington, provided a crucial interior presence with 19 points.

Southern California was led by the dynamic scoring of guard Alijah Arenas. The Woodland Hills, California, native poured in 25 points in 35 minutes. Forward Ezra Ausar of Atlanta added 13 points, while guards Kam Woods and Jordan Marsh each chipped in 14 and 13 points, respectively. Center Jacob Cofie of Seattle recorded 12 points and two blocks.

The Trojans started strong, using active hands to force 12 Ohio State turnovers, which they converted into 20 points. They also held advantages in assists, steals, and offensive rebounds. However, they could not overcome a stark disparity in free throw efficiency, making 24 of 33 attempts compared to Ohio State’s remarkable 24-for-25 showing. The Buckeyes also shot more efficiently from the field, connecting on 50% of their attempts to Southern California’s 41.9%.

Ohio State’s second-half adjustment was key. After a tightly contested first half where neither team led by more than five points, the Buckeyes emerged from the locker room with increased offensive rhythm. They scored 49 points after halftime, shooting 55.2% from the field and making all 13 of their second-half free throws to gradually pull away.

Southern California’s record in close games took a hit; they entered the night having won their previous contest by two points at Penn State. Ohio State, meanwhile, bounced back from a 21-point home loss to Michigan this past Sunday.

The game was part of the Big Ten schedule. Southern California returns to conference play at home against Illinois on Feb. 18. Ohio State faces Virginia in a neutral-site game in Nashville, Tennessee, on Feb. 14 before resuming Big Ten action at home against Wisconsin on Feb. 17.