In a nail-biting encounter on February 22, 2026, the USC Trojans, despite a stellar performance from their freshman guard Jazzy Davidson, succumbed to a close 88-83 defeat against the formidable No. 10 Ohio State Buckeyes at the Schottenstein Center. Davidson's career-best scoring effort was not enough to overcome the Buckeyes' late-game surge, marking the end of USC's impressive six-game winning streak.
The match unfolded as a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading blows throughout the quarters. USC held a narrow 65-61 lead with just over eight minutes remaining in the final period. However, Ohio State, fueled by a crucial 14-0 run, took control of the game. A significant portion of this pivotal scoring spree, seven points to be exact, came from Ohio State's sophomore guard, Jaloni Cambridge, who was instrumental in shifting the momentum.
Cambridge's individual brilliance mirrored Davidson's, as she recorded an impressive 33 points, with 16 of those coming in the decisive fourth quarter. Her clutch performance proved to be the difference-maker, as the Buckeyes managed to stave off a late scare from the Trojans, who resorted to fouling in the closing minutes. USC's proficiency from beyond the arc, converting 11 of 25 three-point attempts, kept them competitive, but ultimately, turnovers plagued their efforts. Ohio State's relentless defense capitalized on these errors, forcing 25 USC turnovers, with Davidson accounting for nine of them.
For the Trojans, this loss not only halted their winning streak but also left them clinging to the No. 8 seed in the Big Ten conference, which currently secures a potential first-round bye in the upcoming tournament. With a Big Ten record of 9-7, USC now faces a challenging road trip to Penn State on Wednesday, followed by a critical home game against the No. 2 ranked UCLA on Sunday, March 1, to conclude their regular season.
In summary, the highly anticipated basketball clash saw the Ohio State Buckeyes emerge victorious over the USC Trojans in a tightly contested battle. While USC's Jazzy Davidson delivered a career-defining performance, it was the explosive fourth-quarter display by Ohio State's Jaloni Cambridge and the Buckeyes' strategic defense that ultimately secured their win and brought an end to USC's impressive run.