USA Win Rematch with Uruguay to Advance to 2025 FIBA Men’s AmeriCup Semifinals

The United States took advantage of its rematch with Uruguay on Thursday afternoon at in the 2025 FIBA Men’s AmeriCup, exacting revenge in the quarterfinals with a 83-70 win over the South American nation. Trailing by seven at the break, the Americans used a 10-2 run to open the third quarter and extended their lead in the fourth quarter to win 83-70. This win moves the USA on to a semifinal rematch with Brazil on Saturday. Ja'Vonte Smart (193-G-1999, college: LSU) was the U.S.’ top scorer for the second game in a row with 27 points. Jerian Grant (196-G-1992, college: Notre Dame) and Zach Auguste (208-C-1993, college: Notre Dame, agency: Pensack Sports) added 13 points apiece, with Jack Cooley (206-C/F-1991, college: Notre Dame, agency: Pensack Sports)’s 12 rebounds leading the American squad on the glass. “We’re very excited to be in the semifinals for sure,” USA head coach Stephen Silas said. “Uruguay is a tough opponent, as we saw the last time we played them, but our team continues to get better. We get better with each game and we’re deep, and we have a lot of pride in our locker room. The first half was mostly controlled by the United States, as Smart scored 12 points and the U.S. held the lead for the first 18 minutes. With just under two minutes remaining in the second quarter, Uruguay took the lead after being awarded five free throws of a trio of USA fouls. Uruguay then held a 45-38 lead at the break. This sudden change in momentum didn’t faze the Americans. They came out of the locker room and stormed back on a 10-2 run behind two 3-pointers from Smart. This gave the U.S. the lead at 48-47, and it switched hands back-and-forth one more time before the USA took a small lead to the end of the quarter. The United States ballooned their three-point lead to ten points in the first six minutes of the final quarter on an 11-4 run. Balanced offense as well as staunch defense down the stretch set the tone for the Americans, as they would close out Uruguay and hold them to only 10 total fourth quarter points. “Our defense in the second half was great,” Silas said. “And our ability to keep them off the offensive glass. That’s where they beat us last time, they were 20 to seven on the glass last time we played them. So our defense and our ability to rebound the basketball was the difference of the game.”
Courtesy of: usab.com