Bruce Thornton isn’t just playing for a tournament bid - he’s playing for legacy.
The senior guard, now the first four-time captain in Ohio State basketball history, is on the verge of rewriting the program’s record books. With 1,950 career points and counting, he’s closing in fast on Dennis Hopson’s all-time scoring mark of 2,096.
But ask anyone around the Buckeyes’ locker room, and they’ll tell you: Thornton’s focus isn’t on the numbers. It’s on the wins.
And on Wednesday night, Ohio State needed every ounce of Thornton’s leadership and late-game poise to pull out a must-have victory over USC.
In a game that had all the feel of a March elimination matchup - two bubble teams, one desperate outcome - Thornton delivered in every way. He dropped 21 points, handed out eight assists, and went a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line.
But more than the stat line, it was his fourth-quarter takeover that told the story. Thornton scored the Buckeyes’ final nine points in an 89-82 win, putting the game on ice with a veteran’s calm and a closer’s mentality.
“He’s all about winning,” interim head coach Jake Diebler said postgame. “That’s what makes him special.
He’s not chasing numbers - he’s chasing wins. And when it mattered most, he rose to the occasion.”
Thornton’s clutch gene was on full display in the final minute. With Ohio State clinging to a one-point lead, he used a screen from Christoph Tilly to get a mismatch on USC’s 7-foot-5 center Gabe Dynes.
Thornton hesitated, attacked the paint, drew contact, and finished through the foul. The and-one gave the Buckeyes breathing room, and he calmly sank four more free throws to seal the win.
It was the kind of moment you expect from a player who’s been through it all - coaching changes, roster turnover, and the temptations of the transfer portal. But Thornton never wavered.
In an era defined by movement, he stayed. And now, he’s giving Ohio State its best shot at dancing in March for the first time in four years.
“We own up to what we do wrong,” Thornton said, reflecting on the team’s response after a humbling 21-point home loss to rival Michigan just days earlier. “That’s the first step of moving forward.
We practiced hard, we bonded, and it showed today. We got the dub.”
That bounce-back win was as much about mentality as it was execution. The Buckeyes fell behind by nine early against USC, but never panicked.
Thornton and the team’s other vocal leaders - including Devin Royal, Juni Mobley, Gabe Cupps, and Tilly - kept the energy high in huddles and helped steady the ship. By halftime, they had trimmed the deficit to three.
In the second half, they built multiple leads of two and three possessions, only to see USC claw back each time.
But every time the Trojans threatened, Thornton had an answer.
“He was vocal. He was locked in,” Diebler said.
“That’s the level we need him at. And the best part?
He wasn’t alone. Other guys stepped up with their voices too.
That’s what leadership looks like.”
Thornton’s playmaking was also back in full swing. After spending much of the season playing off the ball to create more scoring opportunities, he was back in his natural distributor role against USC, racking up his most assists since early December. The Georgia native’s feel for the game remains elite - whether it’s hitting the open man or taking over when the moment calls for it.
“I just love to hoop,” Thornton said with a grin. “If I see a wide-open guy, I’m gonna hit him.
If you’re not open, I’m gonna shoot it. That’s just how I play.”
And right now, that style of play is keeping Ohio State’s postseason hopes alive.
The Buckeyes still have work to do if they want to punch a ticket to the Big Dance. But with Thornton leading the charge - scoring, facilitating, and setting the tone - they’ve got a shot.
The next test comes Saturday in Nashville, where they’ll face No. 15 Virginia in another high-stakes showdown.
It’s February, and the margin for error is razor-thin. But if Bruce Thornton keeps playing like this, Ohio State might just be dancing again.