World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifiers: Mexico Survive Brazil Rally for 79-74 Win in Zacatecas

Mexico built a big enough cushion to survive a furious Brazil comeback, holding on for a 79-74 win in Group E action of the Second Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifiers on Tuesday at Gimnasio Marcelino Gonzalez in Zacatecas City. The hosts never trailed, controlling the scoreboard for nearly 39 of the game's 40 minutes, but a 14-point lead in the third quarter nearly evaporated as Brazil clawed all the way back to tie the score in the closing minute.
Brazil's rally was built on a stretch spanning the second half of the third quarter into the fourth, when the visitors outscored Mexico 19-12 and dominated the boards to erase what had looked like a comfortable Mexican lead. Leonardo Meindl (201-SF-1993) completed the comeback with a pair of free throws that tied the game at 72-72 with 1:27 remaining, but Mexico had an answer ready: Moises Andriassi (177-PG-2000) calmly stepped to the line 40 seconds later and put the hosts back in front for good, part of a frantic final stretch in which he scored 5 points to earn crunch-time honors as Mexico closed out the win by an 8-7 margin over the last 3:25.
Francisco Cruz (192-G-1989, college: Wyoming) was the offensive engine behind Mexico's cushion, scoring 24 points in under 29 minutes on 9-of-11 shooting, including 3 of 5 from three-point range, though he also had to battle through 5 turnovers and 5 fouls along the way. J.J. Avila (203-PF-1991, college: Colorado St.) anchored the middle with a full-game double-double of 15 points and 15 rebounds without a single turnover, and Jose Israel-Gutierrez (206-C-1993) added 14 points on efficient shooting. Meindl was Brazil's clear standout in defeat, finishing with 21 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and a block, but the visitors could never quite find the extra basket needed to complete the turnaround, missing all five of their three-point attempts in the decisive closing minutes.