USA Advances To Gold Medal Game At U19 World Championship
Watch The U19 Championship Game Live!
Butler’s Shelvin Mack hit a key jump shot
down the stretch and Gordon Hayward added four
free throws in the closing minute to help lead the USA to an 81-77
victory over Croatia in the semifinals of the 2009 FIBA U19 World
Championship in Auckland, New Zealand. The victory propelled
the unbeaten U.S. squad into the Gold Medal game against
Greece.
The USA had to pull out a come-from-behind win in the fourth
quarter for the first time in the tournament. Croatia,
trailing by double-digits, rallied with a big third quarter run to
take a 59-57 lead heading into the final period.
Hayward scored a field goal with just over three minutes remaining
to break a 70-70 tie and then Mack hit a pull-up jumper with 2:33
left to give the U.S. a four-point edge, 74-70. The U.S. then
held off Croatia’s comeback attempt by hitting six of six
free throws in the final minute, including four by Hayward.
The USA eased out to a 22-16 lead in the first quarter and
stretched the margin to 46-33 at halftime. But Croatia
rallied behind Mario Delas and out-scored the U.S., 26-11, in the
third period.
Hayward led the U.S. with 15 points and eight rebounds.
Ashton Gibbs (Pittsburgh) added 11 points, while Seth Curry (Duke)
and Terrico White (Mississippi) each had 10. Mack shared the
team lead in assists with three, and he added two points and four
rebounds.
Delas led Croatia with 17 points.
The U.S. will face Greece for the second time in the
tournament. The two teams met in the first game of the second
round, and the U.S. came away with an 85-69 victory. The Gold
Medal game, slated for Sunday, July 12, at 7:30 p.m. (3:30 a.m. in
Indianapolis), will be streamed live on www.fibatv.com.
