Goodwill Games

09/01/2001

USA Opens Goodwill Games With 132-58 Thrashing Of Mexico- September 03, 2001

BRISBANE, Australia – Behind Wally Szczerbiak's 18 first half points the USA (1-0) marched out to a 71-33 halftime lead and rolled on to post a record setting 132-58 victory over Mexico (0-1) in both teams' Goodwill Games opener Monday in Brisbane, Australia. All 12 USA players scored, including seven in double-digits, in a game in which numerous USA and Goodwill Games records fell. The USA will continue preliminary play against Argentina on Tuesday in a game to be televised on TNT (11 p.m. EDT).

"We played hard defensively and we really shared the basketball. We made extra passes and tried to play how you're suppose to play," said USA and Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders. "I thought our defense was good and everybody had some moment in the game where they did some very positive things for us. I talked yesterday about playing the right way and playing pure basketball and I thought that's what our guys tried to do."

It took the U.S. squad one quarter to find its groove. Both teams struggled to get their shooting eye in the opening period as the U.S. made a cool 36.4 percent (8-22 FGs) of its shots while Mexico hit just 31.6 percent (6-19 FGs) of theirs. The USA lead was 25-22 with 1:28 to play in the opening quarter and after sinking six consecutive free throws to end the quarter, the USA was on top 31-22.

The USA shooting heated up in the second quarter. Making a sizzling 81.0 percent (17-21 FGs), including five-of-eight 3-pointers, the USA outscored Mexico 40-11 in the second period alone.

Holding a 34-27 lead with 7:44 to play in the second stanza, the USA closed the quarter with a 37-6 tear and at halftime held a commanding 71-33 lead. By the end of the third quarter the American squad was up 103-44.

"Teams are not going to be falling down for us, they're really going to get up for us and come out strong. I think we wear them down with our depth and when we settle in and play unselfishly and play aggressively that's when we're going to be fine," said Szczerbiak, who made four-of-five 3-pointers in the game.

"Efficiency in shooting is what makes great basketball players and that's what we did. We knocked down open shots, played unselfishly and when you miss just four shots in a quarter you're doing something right," added Szczerbiak about the team's outstanding second quarter effort.

Rashard Lewis (Seattle SuperSonics) paced the U.S. with a double-double, recording game highs of 21 points and 12 boards. Szczerbiak finished with 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the floor, while Mike Miller (Orlando Magic) added 16 points, Jason Terry (Atlanta Hawks) finished with 15, Shawn Marion (Phoenix Suns) accounted for 11 points, Baron Davis (Charlotte Hornets) was credited with 10 points and a USA single game record 12 assists, while Kenyon Martin (New Jersey Nets) tossed in 10 points.

The USA set two Goodwill Games records and a handful of United States single game records for the Goodwill Games competition. Establishing a new Goodwill Games record for most points scored with 132 (breaking the previous record of 119 set by Lithuania against Puerto Rico in the 1998 Games), the 74 point margin of victory also set a Goodwill Games mark for largest margin of victory (breaking the previous high of 49 set by Brazil with a 101-52 win over Puerto Rico in 1994).

Additionally, seven USA single game records fell. In addition to most points scored and widest margin of victory, the U.S. also set marks for most field goals made and attempted after shooting 50-for-89 in the game, for 3-point field goals made and attempted after shooting 15-of-35, and the team also reset the record for most assists with 30.

The United States continues preliminary play Tuesday against Argentina (1 p.m. Brisbane local time), then wraps-up preliminary play versus Cuba on Sept. 5 (1 p.m. Brisbane local time). After a two-day break, play resumes Saturday, Sept. 8 with semifinals action, and the bronze and gold medals games are slated for Sunday, Sept. 9.

The eight team Goodwill Games basketball field also includes Argentina, host-country Australia, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, Mexico and New Zealand. Divided into two preliminary round pools of four teams each, the USA is in Pool A with Argentina, Cuba and Mexico, while Pool B consists of Australia, Brazil, Canada and New Zealand. Each team plays a round-robin competition within its group (three games each). The two top teams from ea group advance to the medal round, while the remaining teams play-off in a classification round to determine fifth through eighth place.

The USA is the defending Goodwill champions having won the gold in New York at the ‘98 Games with a thrilling 93-85 overtime win over Australia. The USA has medaled in all four prior Goodwill Games competitions and in the process currently boasts of an overall win-loss record of 20-6 (76.9 winning percentage). The USA captured gold in 1998 and 1986, silver in 1990 and bronze in 1994. All four of those USA Goodwill Games teams were comprised of college players.