World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifiers: USA defeat Mexico 123-88 to close Window 2

The USA Men’s World Cup Qualifying Team closed out the final game of the second Qualifying window with a commanding 123-88 win. The USA led for all but 23 seconds as they beat Mexico comfortably at Frontwave Arena on Sunday evening as they were determined to bounce back after dropping the window’s opener to Dominican Republic on Thursday. “We had a long 48 hours after that game,” USA head coach Stephen Silas said. “I thought we came out great and the first group really got us off to a good start.” It was a near-perfect start for the Americans as they jumped out to a 12-2 lead, forcing Mexico to call a timeout. They made substantial adjustments after Thursday’s game, taking care of the ball and forcing turnovers on defense, which led to the fast start. “Coach [Silas’] emphasis was, ‘Come out, play our game and be us,’” said Terry Taylor. “We just needed to bring the fight to [Mexico] first … I think that was the difference.” David Roddy (195-G/F-2001, college: Colorado St.), after having eight points in his USA Basketball debut on Thursday, went for 11 points in the first quarter as the USA led 40-14 after 10 minutes. “It felt like a night-and-day difference overall,” Roddy said. “We just wanted to start off on the right foot [with] a lot of energy and just go, go, go.” The U.S continued to flex in the second quarter. Sharing the ball was a point of emphasis for the Americans. Brandon Knight (190-G-1991, college: Kentucky) had seven assists and Dakota Mathias (193-G-1995, college: Purdue) had six before halftime. The Americans led 71-32 at the break as Mathias, Knight, Roddy, James Wiseman (215-C-2001, college: Memphis) and Jaden Shackelford (190-G-2001, college: Alabama) each recorded eight or more points. Mexico started heating up offensively in the third quarter, going on a 21-6 run to start. A big 3 from Malcolm Hill (198-SF-1995, college: Illinois, agency: Pensack Sports) helped stop the bleeding as the USA led 88-67 going into the fourth. Silas mentioned how Thursday’s game, in which Dominican Republic started on a big run, made his team more prepared to answer Mexico’s strong start to the second half. “I think [what helped us] was going through what we went through in the first game,” Silas said. “I learned from the first game – this group probably needs a little bit more positivity …But you only learn that by being with a group.” The United States cruised in the fourth quarter as Hill sank two more 3s, part of an 18-point outing. Their total of 123 points matches the most in a USA World Cup Qualifying game after also scoring 123 vs. Nicaragua in the second game of Window 1. “I was really, really proud of our group and our resilience,” Silas said. “Resilient from [Mexico] scoring 27 points in the first eight minutes of the third quarter and bouncing back and finishing the game that we did.” Roddy was the U.S’s leading scorer with 20, going 7-of-10 from the field. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl added 17 points. He also contributed seven boards and five steals. They, as well as Knight, Taylor, Robinson-Earl, Hill and Jaden Shackelford, were the seven players for the USA to record double figures. “I've been saying all along, ‘The strength of our team is our depth,’ so I think we saw that,” Silas said. Elfrid Payton added nine assists off the bench. He totaled 15 assists in Window 2. Tevian Jones (201-G-2000, college: SUU) made his USA Basketball debut in the second quarter and scored five points, including a step-back 3. Taevion Kinsey also made his USA Basketball debut in that same quarter. 2027 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Window 3 will see the U.S. on July 3 and July 6, as they travel to Dominican Republic and Mexico, respectively.
Courtesy of: usab.com