Two up, two down - Billy D's Team USA thrashes Mexico
Monday, June 18, 2012 | Men's Basketball, Cross Country, Chris Harry
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- It wasn't a 63-point obliteration like Saturday's demolition of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
This time, the Americans only won by 51.
Maryland-bound forward Jake Layman scored 18 points and the duo of Rodney Purvis (bound for North Carolina State) and Shaq Goodwin (Memphis) added 13 to pace Team USA to a 110-59 rout of Mexico in Sunday's second round of Group A pool play at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship at Sao Sebastiao de Paraiso, Brazil.
The win assured the American team, led by Florida coach Billy Donovan, of advancing to the medal round semifinals Tuesday.
“I thought we came with really good energy. I thought we played better [Sunday] than we did [Saturday], which we're to do -- play better and better as we go along,” said Donovan, who is coaching in his first USA Basketball event. “I thought we were really unselfish.”
He hopes that trend continues as Team USA (2-0) now faces host Brazil (2-0), which will be a considerable underdog against the Americans. For comparison, the Brazilians beat the Virgin Islands by 19 and the Mexicans by 10.
Meanwhile, in the Group B pool, favored Argentina and Canada have taken care of business by winning both their first- and second-round games, and will advance into the medal round after their final two B games, also.
