Revenge for the US: Win 107-105 in OT
It's not often that the US is referred to as the underdog, but after losing their two exhibition matches against Lithuania by a combined 62 points, Team USA completed the miracle victory by taking down the U-19 World Tournament favorites 107-105 in overtime. With the win, the US improved to 5-0, first place in the group.
There was a collapse and a rally by the US team before UConn's Jeremy Lamb sealed their fate with a game-winning jumper with 1.8 seconds left in overtime. Team USA led by nine points at the start of the fourth quarter and their lead ballooned up into double-figures before Lithuania fought back. Led by the Toronto Raptors' Jonas Valanciunas, the fifth overall pick last week, Lithuania tied it up to send the game into an extra period and scored seven of the OT's first eight points before the Americans staged their comeback. Valanciunas finished with 30 points, 15 rebounds and 4 blocked shots.
In the last exhibition, Lithuania crushed the US 108-75 by capitalizing off of Team USA's 21 turnovers and dreadful outside shooting (0-for-17 from 3-point); the team had 16 turnovers and 6-for-24 from behind the arc in the first contest. But this one was different- the US shot an efficient 6-for-13 from 3, with UConn's Lamb connecting on 5 of his 7 shots. Lamb also knocked down 13-of-23 shots from the floor, giving him a game- and tournament-high 35 points.
Memphis' Joe Jackson scored 19 points, but missed 14 of his 22 shots from the field and turned the ball over 7 times, including several in the clutch. Creighton-forward Doug McDermott collected 13 points and a team-high 8 rebounds.
ByPresident Corey Ruff - 7-5-11
