When all was said and done, Mark Few’s side shot 50 percent from the field and 37 percent from three en route to a second-straight win, while outrebounding the defending Pan Am champs 53-39. “We were absolutely bad in the first half”.
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The United States Pan American Men’s Basketball Team features a compelling blend of veteran experience and young, collegiate talent.
The fourth quarter fared even worse for the Venezuela, whose nine points paled in comparison to the U.S.’s 26.
Damian Wilkins had 21 points and 10 rebounds to pace the US while former LSU star Anthony Randolph added 16. “But I know this season I need to step up to the plate and be more vocal now that Dez (Wells) won’t be here”.
It truly was a game of two halves.
In a report released by USA Basketball, Few attributed the team’s first half woes to poor teamwork.
“To attack. We needed to attack”, said Few of what he told his team at halftime. By the time that buzzer sounded, it was all tied up at 18.
“And then Bobby (Brown) got going”.
Once the second half started, Team USA began its counterattack.
It didn’t take long for the U.S.to run away with the game after that.
In the opener against Venezuela, the Americans struggled to find any offensive rhythm in the first half, slipping into a 41-33 deficit at the break.
The game can be viewed live online on ESPN3, with coverage beginning at 9 p.m. ET. The matchup will be broadcast on ESPN2. Taking us out of our rhythm on offense and forcing you to make feel plays and basketball plays. Wilkins, 35 and the oldest player on the U.S. roster, logged a team-high 27 minutes of playing time.
Next up, the United States plays Puerto Rico on Wednesday night.
Michigan State guard Denzel Valentine (45) looks to pass in the first half of their NCAA tournament game against Georgia at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C. Friday, March 20, 2015.
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With six runs in the first inning, the U.S. didn’t let their opponents score at all, nd eventually won 11-0 in a game shortened to five innings because of the worldwide mercy rule.
