July 9, 2009
BELGRADE, Serbia -- Team USA downed Bulgaria 96-66 in the quarterfinals of the World University Games on Thursday to advance to the medal semifinals where they will face Russia on Friday at 8:30 a.m. PT. Husky forward Quincy Pondexter led five Americans who scored in double-figures with 15 points and played a team-high 21 minutes. Pondexter, from Fresno, Calif. (San Joaquin Memorial) was 5-of-11 from the field, including 1-of-2 from three-point land, grabbed four rebounds and dished out two assists. He continued his stellar free throw shooting with a perfect 4-for-4. Team USA improved to 5-0 in tournament action and has won four of their games by 30 or more points. "Being together so much without any TV or a lot of American luxuries is really bringing us together, and it's really crossing over onto the court," said Pondexter. "We just really have a common goal to win the gold medal, and we are doing whatever it takes to win." The Americans jumped all over the Bulgarians out of the gate. Receiving points from four different players, the U.S. ran out to a 9-1 lead to start the game. By the 4:28 mark, the USA was up 16-5 and continued to increase its lead and at the quarter break, held a 24-9 lead. They kept the throttle to the floor in the second quarter outscoring their European counterparts 22-15 to hold a 46-24 halftime advantage. In the first half alone, the USA outrebounded Bulgaria 32-18, shot a sizzling 47.1 percent (8-17 3pt FGs) from beyond the arc and held Bulgaria to a paltry 28.6 percent (10-35 FGs) shooting from the field. Bulgaria narrowed the margin in the third quarter, but Team USA put Bulgaria away and outscored them 28-18 in the final quarter. The USA's first five field goals in the final stanza were all threes, three of which came from Da'Sean Butler, and by the 4:18 mark the USA's lead was 83-59. Next up for the Americans are a Russian squad that they beat 67-63 in the exhibition portion of the Games. Pondexter is expecting a tough battle on Friday. "They are a very good team," he said. "The first time we played them, we were a little caught off guard by how good they were. It's not going to be any different tomorrow. It's going to be a hard-fought game because we know what is at stake, and they know what is at stake. Both teams want to represent their countries to the max, and it's going to be a great game."
Information for this story was gathered from USABasketball.com. |
