SAITAMA, Japan -- Caron Butler of Connecticut and Reggie
Evans of Iowa scored 17 points each Tuesday, leading the unbeaten
United States to a 123-87 victory over Japan at the World
Basketball Championship for Young Men.
Carlos Boozer of Duke had another strong game with 11 rebounds
and 16 points as the Americans ran their record to 4-0 in the
12-nation tournament for players under 21.
"We played well offensively," U.S. coach Jim Boeheim of
Syracuse said. "Japan played well, too, but we just outscored them
and were a little too big and strong for them."
The United States scored 11 straight points in the first seven
minutes before opening a 67-46 halftime lead at Saitama Super
Arena.
Japan's Fumio Murayama made 6-of-9 3-point shots in the first 20
minutes and finished with 20 points.
The United States plays Israel on Wednesday, the final day of
the preliminary round.
"Our defense will have to pick up and that's what we're most
concerned about at this point because we won't get the easy shots
as we move on," Boeheim said.
In other Group B games, Israel downed Argentina (2-2) 80-63
behind 16 points from Afik Nism.
Croatia picked up its first win in a
137-72 rout over winless South Korea. Srdan Subotic scored 19
points for Croatia.
In Group A, defending champion Australia got 26 points from
Bradley Sheridan in a 95-68 victory over previously undefeated
Slovenia.
Sergio Vidal led Spain (3-1) to a 75-69 victory over winless
Qatar. The Dominican Republic, led by 23 rebounds and 20 points
from Yack Martinez, defeated Egypt 107-76. The Dominicans picked up
their second win while Egypt dropped to 1-3.
|
|
|
