MANAGUA (Nicaragua) – United States and the Bahamas gave each other one of the hardest matches yet of the FIBA AmeriCup 2025 on Saturday, as both needed an extra frame after finishing in regulation tied at 84-84. In the end, United States took charge, defeating Bahamas 105-93 at the Alexis Arguello Sports Complex in Managua, Nicaragua.
Franco Miller’s 29 points (including a three-pointer with two seconds left to play) kept Bahamas in the game to force overtime. A 9-0 run from the United States put them in front by 6 during the extra period, which was enough of a gap to build on and secure the win.
Turning point
With 12 different lead changes, each team took control at separate points of the game, with United States spending 23:01 in the lead while Bahamas led for 16:24. With United States leading by as many as nine in the fourth quarter, Miller, Kentwan Smith, and Samuel Hunter kept the Bahamas’ offense on pace. However, in overtime, Auguste added 5 points while Grant poured in another 6, while Tyler Cavanaugh played lockdown defense on the boards, making blocks and grabbing steals to help give the Americans breathing room to get to the final whistle in front.
TCL player of the game
Auguste led United States with 28 points on 9-of-14 shooting, while also grabbing seven rebounds and two steals in the win, including a solid performance in overtime.
Langston Galloway added 14 points for United States, including 2 triples, 5 assists and 2 steals for his team. Cavanaugh notched a double-double of 13 points and 14 rebounds in the win, tying the highest mark of rebounds by an USA player in AmeriCup. Previous players with 14 rebounds in a game for the USA include Tim Duncan, Aaron McGhee, Kristoffer Lang, and Jameel Warney. For Bahamas, Miller led their attack with 29 points, with 6 triples, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Dominick Bridgewater was crucial in pushing the game to overtime with his 19 points and 5 assists, and Isaiah Mobley added a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds. Miller's 29 points are the second-highest mark for points in a single game by a Bahamian player. The record is 37 points by Vincent Knowles in 1995.
Stats don’t lie
Points from the bench for United States made the biggest difference as their bench outscored the Bahamas 48-13. Smith and Jaraun Burrows stepped up, but the Caribbeans ultimately had to rely on their starters, while USA had 10 players with at least three points scored in the win. United States also capitalized on turnovers more, scoring 22 points off of 18 Bahamas turnovers, while the Bahamian team was only able to score 12 points off of 13 United States turnovers.
Bottom line
Both teams fought through two quarters, but when the game went to overtime, the United States showed its strength as the Bahamian starters (four of whom played over 34 minutes of action) could not keep up with the loaded rotation. It was the eighth first game win for the USA in its AmeriCup history. The Caribbean and American matchup had strong two-way players who can score, making it difficult for the other Group A teams.
They said
"I was confident the whole time, everyone showed up top to bottom... I'm proud of everybody and the Bahamas nation," said Mobley regarding his team’s strong performance. "We're the United States, so we're going to get everybody's best. We just got together two weeks ago, but at this tournament we're gonna get better and better," Grant said. Grant also reflected on the presence of his father, ex-NBA player Harvey Grant, who was courtside for the game. "He'll talk to me about the good and the bad, that's the bonus of having someone who has played at the highest level.”
FIBA