OCEANSIDE (California) – The United States put on an offensive clinic on Sunday night. The squad set new competition marks for made field goals (46) and assists (36), while also finishing among the Top 10 in several additional categories. The 123 points tied the team’s own record set just three months ago against Nicaragua in these same FIBA World Cup Americas Qualifiers.
After pouring in 71 points on the board in the first half, USA still got there despite a third-quarter lull where they only scored 17 before roaring back for another 35 in the final period.
Seven players scored in double digits and combined for 46 made field goals, a new record in the history of the competition (beating their own previous high of 45 in a victory over Uruguay back in 2018). David Roddy led the charge with 20 points on an efficient 7-for-10 from the field. Brandon Knight and Malcolm Hill added 18 points each, while Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (17), Terry Taylor (14), Dakota Mathias and Jaden Shackelford (10 each) also participated in the historic feat. Knight and Elfrid Payton Jr., who dished 9 dimes apiece, had the offense humming early and were the catalysts for a record-setting 36-assist performance. Brazil had 35 assists against Colombia in 2022, while the previous-high mark for the USA was 32 in 2022 (against Uruguay).
From beyond the arc, Roddy (5-for-8), Hill (4-for-8) and Knight (3-for-7) helped the Americans knock down 17 three-pointers — tying a Top 10 mark in tournament history and falling just one shy of the 18 they made against Panama in 2018. All 12 players saw action and contributed to a 160-efficiency rating, a new record for the USA (previous was 153 last December against Nicaragua) and the second-highest mark in competition history behind Brazil’s 164 against Colombia in 2022.
FIBA