Jiangyin, China – China outlasted the NetScouts Basketball USA All-Stars (4-2) as they escaped with a 99-91 overtime victory. Jamal Wilson sent the game into overtime tying the game for the USA with a three-pointer with 1.7 seconds left in regulation. China (2-4) has now handed the USA both their losses on the tour and China’s only two wins have come against the USA.
After China only made 2-of-28 three-pointers last night in a double-overtime loss to Lithuania, they came out red hot tonight. They shot 16-of-22 in the first half while shooting 84 percent (11-of-13) on two-point attempts. China led by eleven (46-35) at halftime as the USA shot only 1-of-7 on three’s and 6-of-11 on free throws. It took until the fourth quarter for the USA to stage their comeback. Led by strong defense that resulted in 19 steals in the game the Americans cut a 16-point lead to ten. When the score was 72-62 Keion Bell was fouled and missed both free throws. China was then called for a flagrant foul but Sam Coleman missed two foul shots. The USA in-bounded the ball and subsequently missed the shot on the possession. A potential six points resulted in zero points. Even so the USA’s defense led to some quick baskets by Bell and the USA erased an eight-point deficit with two minutes left to tie the game on Wilson’s three-pointer.
The USA had the momentum but missed a few open threes at the start of overtime as China gradually took control of the game.
Bell led the USA with 26 points. Bell was limited to seven first half minutes as he was called for two fouls within the first three minutes of the game. Bell subsequently fouled out late in the fourth quarter while Coleman and Josh Clyburn both fouled out in overtime. The USA was called for 11 more fouls than China and China has a +16 advantage in free throw attempts. However the USA lost the game of their inability to make shots as well as due to China’s hot first half shooting. The Americans missed a total of 48 shots from the field compared to 22 missed shots by China. That included 5-of-28 USA three-point shooting. China made 34-of-42 free throws while the USA was 14-of-26. The USA missed four more free throws than China with 16 fewer attempts. The USA stayed in the game with their defense and a 19-3 edge in steals. The Americans forced 23 China turnovers while only committing six of their own.
USA Head Coach Rod Jensen: “China executed very well in the first three quarters while we could not put the ball in the basket. We had good looks that did not go down. The missed free throws really hurt us as well. We made a nice comeback to end the game to OT but then couldn’t sustain that play in the overtime.”
In the first game tonight Lithuania (3-4) defeated Ukraine (3-3) 77-73. The four teams are off to Wuhu, about three hours west of here tomorrow with play beginning on Saturday.
The USA and Lithuania tied for the title in Jiangyin with 2-1 records. China and Ukraine were both 1-2. The records for the tournament are: USA (4-2), Ukraine (3-3), Lithuania (3-4) and China (2-4).
NetScouts Basketball USA All-Stars
Nate Rohnert (Denver) 7 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals
Jay-R Strowbridge (Oregon) 15 points, 1 rebound, 6 assists, 3 steals
Keion Bell (Pepperdine/Missouri) 26 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Jamal Wilson (Rhode Island) 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals
Markeith Cummings (Kennesaw State) 12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals
Dominic Cheek (Villanova) 6 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Jeff Powers (California)DNP – 0 points, 1 steal
Josh Clyburn (Queens) 4 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
Sam Coleman (Coppin State) 10 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists
Robert Thurman (California) DNP – Injured
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