USA Wins Final Tune Up Game; Pondexter Scores Three Points

The USA beat Russia 67-63 in the final tune up game before facing Finland on July 3 in the World University Games opener. Team USA was 2-1 during the exhibition stretch of the tournament.

Husky Quincy Pondexter came off the bench and scored three points on 3-for-4 from the free throw line. He played 17 minutes on Monday and averaged just over 5.3 points per game in the three exhibition games.

Monday's game versus Russia was a rugged, defensive battle. With the game even at 50-apiece heading into the fourth quarter, Russia's defense held the USA to one field goal in the first 7:30 of the final stanza and went up 61-56 at 4:24 on a Alexy Zhukanenko put-back. That bucket would be Russia's final field goal of the contest as the USA's defense turned the tables and held Russia scoreless from the field to close out the game.

Following a Evan Turner free throw at 2:39, Corey Fisher banked in a jumper at 2:30 to net the USA's first field goal since Deon Thompson hit a turn-around jumper at 9:32 and close to 61-60.

The Americans disrupted Russia on the other end as a pass went out of bounds. The U.S. pushed the ball up the court and Talo Battle threaded a pass inside to Thompson, who gave his side a 62-61 edge with 1:55 to play. Neither team was able to score on their next possession, and with a little more than minute to play Russia hit a pair of free throws to retake the lead, 63-62.

In the final minute of action, Battle drove to the hoop, but his shot was off the mark. The USA had three players under the basket and tried twice to put the ball in the hole before Thompson was fouled on an attempted tip-in with 39 seconds remaining. He missed both tries from the line. However, Robbie Hummel crashed the boards, grabbed the rebound and put the ball in the hoop for the final lead change of the game.

For more information on the game, click here.