Melo Leads USA Past Nigeria
8/2/2016 9:34:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Former Syracuse All-American Carmelo Anthony had a squad-best 19 points to lead the USA Basketball Senior Men's Team past Nigeria in the squad's final exhibition tuneup prior to the Olympics in Rio. The Americans won, 80-45.
Team USA had six players in double-figure scoring. In addition to Anthony, Klay Thompson had 17, Kevin Durant 14, DeMar DeRozan 13 and DeMarcus Cousins and DeAndre Jordan each had 10. The victory game the Americans an unblemished, 5-0 record during its exhibition-game schedule.
"We wanted to share the ball well and try some people with different positions and different lineups," head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "I thought we advanced, and I thought we got better tonight."
Krzyzewski is back on the Team USA bench along with assistant coaches Jim Boeheim (Syracuse), Tom Thibodeau (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Monty Williams (former assistant, Oklahoma City Thunder). Syracuse head coach designate Mike Hopkins is also on the staff as a court coach.
Team USA now heads to Rio to defend its gold medal. The Americans open play on Saturday, August 6, against China.Â
Recent Syracuse graduate Michael Gbinije, a member of the Nigerian team, played 17 minutes in a reserve role and scored two points.
Team USA had six players in double-figure scoring. In addition to Anthony, Klay Thompson had 17, Kevin Durant 14, DeMar DeRozan 13 and DeMarcus Cousins and DeAndre Jordan each had 10. The victory game the Americans an unblemished, 5-0 record during its exhibition-game schedule.
"We wanted to share the ball well and try some people with different positions and different lineups," head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "I thought we advanced, and I thought we got better tonight."
Krzyzewski is back on the Team USA bench along with assistant coaches Jim Boeheim (Syracuse), Tom Thibodeau (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Monty Williams (former assistant, Oklahoma City Thunder). Syracuse head coach designate Mike Hopkins is also on the staff as a court coach.
Team USA now heads to Rio to defend its gold medal. The Americans open play on Saturday, August 6, against China.Â
Recent Syracuse graduate Michael Gbinije, a member of the Nigerian team, played 17 minutes in a reserve role and scored two points.
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