USA Closes Out 2025 FIBA AmeriCup Qualifying With 105-83 Win Over The Bahamas

The February 2025 USA Men’s AmeriCup Qualifying Team closed out the final 2025 FIBA Men’s AmeriCup qualifying window with a 105-83 win over the Bahamas on Sunday night in Nassau, Bahamas. The United States, who pocketed their bid to the 2025 AmeriCup held in Managua, Nicaragua in August with a victory over Puerto Rico on Thursday, were led by Ja'Vonte Smart (193-G-1999, college: LSU) and Nassir Little (199-F-2000, college: UNC, agency: Pensack Sports)’s 16 points apiece on Sunday night to improve to 5-1 in qualifying play. Five Americans notched double-digit scoring performances in the contest. While Smart and Little cruised in tandem through the first three quarters, Robert Baker (208-F-1998, college: Harvard) scored 11 points, shooting an efficient 5-of-8 with a game-high nine boards and Jahmi'us Ramsey (190-G-2001, college: Texas Tech), the only player to have played in all six qualifiers for the USA, added 12 points. Jaylen Nowell (193-G-1999, college: Washington)’s 15 points in just under 15 minutes of play — including 11 fourth-quarter points — helped widen the USA’s sway despite the Bahamas’ persisting efforts. The clash faced an energetic start on both ends inside Sir Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, as the two teams exchanged jabs back-and-forth through the first frame of action. Guard Franco Miller Jr. (190-G-1999, college: FGCU) led the charges for the Bahamas at the outset and the home team battled to take an 18-17 edge over the USA at the 2:47 mark of the quarter. After Baker II responded by knocking in a triple from the top of the key to retake a 20-18 lead, the Americans never trailed again on the evening. The USA shot the ball well through the opening 10 minutes of play — at a 53.3% clip from the field — but amplified their aggression on offense and intensity on the defensive side to grow their advantage in the second quarter. Miller Kopp (201-F-1998, college: Indiana) opened up the second stretch with a quick bucket for the Americans before the Bahamas’ Tavario Miller (203-C-1994, college: Texas A&M), a proven scorer through all six qualifying contests, composed a five-point run of his own to bring his team back within one, 27-28, with 7:45 remaining in the half. Jalen Crutcher hit back with a timely triple that propelled an unanswered eight-point run for the U.S., who then closed out the first half on back-to-back finishes by Little in transition followed by consecutive beyond-the-arc jumpers by Smart to grab a 48-36 lead after 20 minutes of action. “The first quarter was really tight and in the second quarter we held them to 14 points which was huge for our group,” head coach Stephen Silas said. “We try to be a defensive-minded team and I don’t think we were like that in the first quarter, but in the second quarter we picked it up.” The Americans owned the defensive boards in the first half, securing 20 to the Bahamas’ 13 and built a foundation of confidence on defense that preserved into the second half. Their momentum swung into the crucial third quarter, where the red, white and blue opened up the gap even further. In the first three minutes of play, Little and Smart were unstoppable attacking the rim on successive plays to give the United States a 54-38 lead. The Bahamas’ Tavario Miller and Dominick Bridgewater (178-PG-2000) combined for 12 points in the frame, but couldn’t erase the deficit as they trailed the USA 73-56 heading into the final quarter. Silas’ team built up their highest-scoring quarter in the last one, notching 32 points to close out qualifying play. Ruben Nembhard’s jumper in the paint elapsed the triple-digit ticket for the Americans in the final 90 seconds as the team closed out a 22-point victory. The Bahamas’ trio Bridgewater, Franco Miller Jr. and Tavario Miller put up a hard fought effort for their national team, combining for 51 of the team’s 83 points, but ultimately could not overcome the USA’s depth and paint protection on defense. In the win, 11 players scored for the Americans and 51 points came off the bench, while 48 rebounds and an impressive 11 blocks — including seven from Baker II — helped the USA carry over momentum from the second quarter to finish out the matchup on top. Silas credited his assistant coaches, Patrick Ewing — a Hall of Fame center — and Ty Ellis — who organizes and runs the defensive scheme — for their work in inspiring the Americans’ solid defensive performance on the night. “We actually watched some highlights of (Ewing) today, blocking a bunch of shots and as a result we got 11 blocks today.”
Courtesy of: usab.com