Ohio State's Comeback Bid Falls Short As the No. 7 Buckeyes Lose 83-74 to No. 21 USC at the Hall of Fame Classic

After countless come-from-behind wins in 2022-23 — including a historic 24-point comeback vs. Indiana in the 2023 Big Ten Tournament — Ohio State almost started its 2023-24 season with another resurgent win, as the Buckeyes overcame a 19-point deficit in the second half but suffered an 83-74 loss to No. 21 USC at the Hall of Fame Classic in Las Vegas.

Final in the season opener in Las Vegas after a tough fight#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/HfqN62yIHL

— Ohio State WBB (@OhioStateWBB) November 6, 2023

Guard Jacy Sheldon led Ohio State in the contest, collecting 28 points, four rebounds, two assists and five steals. The Buckeyes also received a standout performance from forward Taylor Thierry, who had 16 points, a team-best eight rebounds and two steals. However, USC freshman guard JuJu Watkins lived up to her reputation as the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2023 class with 32 points, six rebounds and five assists as she and forward Rayah Marshall (18 points, 17 rebounds) pushed the Trojans past the No. 7-ranked Buckeyes.

USC connected on 35.3% of their shots and 20% of attempts from behind the 3-point line in the first quarter. Behind field goals from Trojans guard Taylor Bigby and Marshall after the Thierry turnover, USC opened the second quarter on a 7-2 run and took a 22-20 lead with 8:07 left in the first half, leading to a quick timeout from Ohio State head coach Kevin McGuff. The break didn't help the Buckeyes, as they committed five turnovers and were able to attempt two shots (both missed) as the Trojans increased their lead to 30-20 with 5:02 left in the quarter behind a 17-2 run that started in the opening frame.

Guard Rikki Harris stopped the USC run with a 3-pointer, but the Trojans extended their lead with a 16-5 run and led 46-28 at the intermission. Ohio State shot 20% from the floor in the second quarter and turned the ball over seven times. Watkins led all players with 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting, while Marshall collected a first-half double-double with 12 points and 10 boards.

After the break, USC increased its lead to 53-34 with 7:07 left in the third quarter. But Ohio State built momentum by reaching into the paint, drawing a series of fouls that resulted in successful trips to the free-throw line. The Buckeyes cut the deficit to 53-42 with 4:18 remaining.

Ohio State's trips to the paint resulted in several baskets for the Buckeyes, as McGuff's squad scored layups on three consecutive possessions to make it 55-48. Then, Ohio State’s well-renowned defense showed up, as the Buckeyes forced turnovers on USC’s next five possessions to take a 56-55 lead — the team’s first since the start of the second quarter. The Trojans added a free throw to tie it back up before Sheldon added a layup to put the Buckeyes ahead 58-56 entering the fourth quarter.

Welcome to the @JacySheldon show! #HOFSeries | #HoophallU pic.twitter.com/zWwX0RXk2E

— Hall of Fame Series (@hofseries) November 6, 2023

In the final frame, the Buckeyes' comeback bid fell short, as the Trojans made five of their first six shots in the frame to take a 69-62 lead with 6:35 left in the contest. Ohio State later drew within six points, 76-70, but a foul from 2023 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Cotie McMahon sent USC guard Kayla Padilla to the line, where she knocked down both shots to give the Trojans a 78-70 lead with 1:36 left. From that point forward, the Trojans held on and secured a nine-point win over the Buckeyes.

Ohio State's next appearance will be in its home opener on Sunday vs. IUPUI. That matchup is set to tip off at 1 p.m.