MONTEVIDEO – BAHIA BLANCA (FIBA AmeriCup 2017) – Day 4 of the FIBA AmeriCup 2017 saw Facundo Campazzo led Argentina to an overtime win over Canada, Granger lead Uruguay past the Dominican Republic, USA dominate on its FIBA AmeriCup debut and Venezuela come away with a win against the Virgin Islands in dramatic fashion.

Led offensively by 17 points from Hilliard and Holmes, USA debuted in Group C of the FIBA AmeriCup 2017 with a 97-56 blowout win over Panama. With a distributed offensive and complete control of the boards, the team coached by Jeff Van Gundy jumped to an early lead after a 27-10 first quarter. Panama tried to mount a comeback with great additions from Gary Forbes, but with a suffocating defense the North Americans kept adding to the difference and sentenced the game.

With a magnificent Facundo Campazzo leading the way with 23 points, Argentina came from behind to defeat Canada in overtime 92-86. Argentina took a slight lead at the end of the first half, but Canada fought back and the game became close, emotional and exciting. At the start of the second half and in a heartbreaking moment, Argentina’s leading voice Luis Scola suffered another injury and left for the locker room. Canada escaped to a 7-point lead during the fourth quarter with great additions from Brady Heslip, who had 24 points in the game. Argentina fought hard and tied the game to force an overtime. The extra minutes belonged to Facu Campazzo, who added 9 points and secured the win for the home team.

Uruguay started its FIBA AmeriCup campaign with an important 66-57 win over the Dominican Republic. Uruguay escaped on the scoreboard after a 23-7 first quarter, but the Dominicans climbed back into the game after a 25-9 second quarter. The second half belonged to the home team, as Granger took over the game with 23 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists, to sentence the game for Uruguay.

Venezuela escaped with a dramatic and narrow 86-84 win over the Virgin Islands, after a last second basket from Walter Hodge was annulated. The defending champs entered the last ten minutes of the game with a 7-point lead, that vanished thanks to another amazing 24-point performance from Hodge. With less than a minute to play, and down by one, John Cox hit a long range shot that sent the Venezuelans to the top of the scoreboard. Sam Mitchell drew a play that worked, but the ball was released after time expired and the Venezuelans celebrated the win. John Cox was the leading scorer for Venezuela with 23 points.

Group Play will continue tomorrow on Bahia Blanca and Montevideo, when Panama takes on the Dominican Republic, Venezuela faces Canada, Uruguay faces the United States and the Virgin Islands take-on the host of Group B Argentina.

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FIBA