Michigan State University Athletics
Team USA Gets First Win At Pan American Games
7/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
July 28, 2007
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - The USA Men's Pan American Games Team defeated Argentina, 74-71, on Friday night in the team's final preliminary round game. Despite beating the previously unbeaten Argentina team, the Americans did not advance to the medal semifinal round after losing their first two games of the preliminary round. Team USA will continue play against the U.S. Virgin Islands on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. EDT in the consolation round semifinals.
Michigan State senior guard Drew Neitzel scored 10 points in 31 minutes against Argentina. He shot 4-of-11 from the field, including 2-of-7 from 3-point range. Indiana's D.J. White led Team USA with 22 points, while Washington State's Derrick Low added 13. Vanderbilt's Shan Foster joined Neitzel with his 10 points.
Trailing 42-38 with 9:12 to play in the third quarter, the USA went on a 20-9 run that left it leading 59-51 with 1:27 left in the third period. After that, the Argentines cut the American lead to two points on a few occasions, but could never tie the score or retake the lead.
"I think our guys finally understand how physical this is and how you have to play at this level. I'm proud of them. They really battled. Argentina's a great team. I'm proud that after 0-2 they didn't quit. I think that says a lot about their character and how much pride they take in representing the USA," said Team USA head coach Jay Wright.
For Neitzel, winning the game was the result of maintaining focus.
"It was fun," said Neitzel. "It's always fun playing. But when you come away with a win against one of the best teams in the pool, it feels great. Coach Wright did a great job of talking to us and keeping us in a positive mindset. He just told us that we've got to keep learning. We haven't been playing together that long. It's a learning process. We couldn't do anything about those first two games, we just had to come out, keep playing as hard as we can and playing together.
"These teams are great. They really play well together, I think that's what hurts the United States sometimes, because we don't have the time to play together and practice as much as some of these teams. I think you're seeing tonight that we're starting to grow and improve as a team. Our goal coming in was to be the hardest playing team in this tournament and I think we left it all on the court tonight."
