Men’s Basketball: Long Helps USA Defeat Puerto Rico In Pan Am Games, 102-70

 

TORONTO – Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns basketball standout Shawn Long made his debut for the U.S. Men’s Basketball Pan American team on Wednesday as he came off the bench to score five points with a rebound in a 102-70 rout of Puerto Rico.

The win improved the USA record to 2-0 and guaranteed the Americans of advancing to the medal round semifinals on Friday. The USA concludes preliminary round play Thursday (8 p.m. CDT) against 2-0 Brazil in a clash to decide the No. 1 seed for Group A. The game is scheduled to be broadcast live on ESPN2.  

"I think they’ve (Brazil) been playing as good or better than anybody in this tournament," said USA and Gonzaga University head coach Mark Few . "They’ve just been rock solid. They don’t beat themselves. They are an excellent defensive team. They are an excellent offensive team the way they move the ball and pass it is really, really impressive. And they’ve got good size, and they are very physical around the rim. So, this will be our biggest test yet. You are going to have to beat this team. They are not going to beat themselves."

The USA owns a 13-4 all-time win-loss record against Brazil in Pan American Games competitions, but is just 3-3 versus the 2016 Olympic Games host since 1995.

Long, who did not see action in the USA’s 85-62 win over Venezuela on Tuesday, finished 2-for-4 from the floor and 1-for-2 from the free throw line as the USA shot 50- percent from the floor and built a 65-29 lead at halftime. The Morgan City, La., native added a steal in 10 minutes of play as all 12 USA members scored and recorded at least one rebound. Bobby Brown led the USA with 16 points with Denzel Valentine and Damien Wilkens scoring 15 each and Taurean Prince adding 10.

The USA’s 102 points marked the first time a U.S. Pan American Games squad had scored 100 or more points since the Americans defeated Mexico 104-80 in 1995, a string of 24 games.

Wednesday’s other preliminary round play saw Brazil (2-0) remain perfect after disposing of Venezuela (0-2) 79-64, Dominican Republic (1-1) defeated Mexico (1-1) 95-70 and Canada (2-0) posted an 88-83 decision over Argentina (0-2).

The top two finishing teams from each preliminary-round group will advance to the medal-round semifinals on July 24, while the third and fourth-placed teams will play for fifth-eighth places. The semifinal winners will compete for the gold medal on July 25, and the semifinal losers will play for bronze.

Overall, the Americans have now compiled an 89-15 record and captured eight gold medals, three silver medals and two bronze medals.

* USA Basketball contributed to this release

TORONTO – Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns basketball standout Shawn Long made his debut for the U.S. Men’s Basketball Pan American team on Wednesday as he came off the bench to score five points with a rebound in a 102-70 rout of Puerto Rico.

The win improved the USA record to 2-0 and guaranteed the Americans of advancing to the medal round semifinals on Friday. The USA concludes preliminary round play Thursday (8 p.m. CDT) against 2-0 Brazil in a clash to decide the No. 1 seed for Group A. The game is scheduled to be broadcast live on ESPN2.  

"I think they’ve (Brazil) been playing as good or better than anybody in this tournament," said USA and Gonzaga University head coach Mark Few . "They’ve just been rock solid. They don’t beat themselves. They are an excellent defensive team. They are an excellent offensive team the way they move the ball and pass it is really, really impressive. And they’ve got good size, and they are very physical around the rim. So, this will be our biggest test yet. You are going to have to beat this team. They are not going to beat themselves."

The USA owns a 13-4 all-time win-loss record against Brazil in Pan American Games competitions, but is just 3-3 versus the 2016 Olympic Games host since 1995.

Long, who did not see action in the USA’s 85-62 win over Venezuela on Tuesday, finished 2-for-4 from the floor and 1-for-2 from the free throw line as the USA shot 50- percent from the floor and built a 65-29 lead at halftime. The Morgan City, La., native added a steal in 10 minutes of play as all 12 USA members scored and recorded at least one rebound. Bobby Brown led the USA with 16 points with Denzel Valentine and Damien Wilkens scoring 15 each and Taurean Prince adding 10.

The USA’s 102 points marked the first time a U.S. Pan American Games squad had scored 100 or more points since the Americans defeated Mexico 104-80 in 1995, a string of 24 games.

Wednesday’s other preliminary round play saw Brazil (2-0) remain perfect after disposing of Venezuela (0-2) 79-64, Dominican Republic (1-1) defeated Mexico (1-1) 95-70 and Canada (2-0) posted an 88-83 decision over Argentina (0-2).

The top two finishing teams from each preliminary-round group will advance to the medal-round semifinals on July 24, while the third and fourth-placed teams will play for fifth-eighth places. The semifinal winners will compete for the gold medal on July 25, and the semifinal losers will play for bronze.

Overall, the Americans have now compiled an 89-15 record and captured eight gold medals, three silver medals and two bronze medals.

* USA Basketball contributed to this release