Black starts, stuffs stat sheet vs. Ecuador

Anthony Black (left) is shown ahead of Team USA's game against Ecuador on June 7, 2022, at the 2022 FIBA U18 Americas Championship in Tijuana, Mexico.

Future Arkansas guard Anthony Black stuffed the stat sheet in Team USA’s second group play game at the 2022 FIBA U18 Americas Championship in Tijuana, Mexico, on Tuesday.

In the team’s 123-41 victory over Ecuador, Black finished with 2 points on 1 of 6 shooting, 9 rebounds and 6 assists against 3 turnovers. And in a starting role, he played a team-high 21:27 in the win.

Black was sharp on the defensive end, as well, leading the charge in Team USA’s 16-steal, 14-block game. He recorded a pair of steals and tied teammate Kanaan Carlyle (Stanford) with a game-high three blocks.

Team USA, which led by as many as 85 in the game and once went on a 31-0 run, outscored Ecuador by 31 points when Black was on the floor.

Black’s first two blocks were left handed and came in the opening two-plus minutes of the first quarter. Each shot he blocked was turned away at the rim.

His six assists were spread among four teammates and generated 15 points — three three-pointers, two dunks and one layup. Five of Black’s assists came in the second half, and Team USA assisted on 32 of 49 field goals in the win.

Through two games in group play, Black is tied for second on the team at 8 rebounds per game and first at 4.5 assists, making up for a 2-for-13 shooting start. Black and Kel’el Ware, a former standout at North Little Rock and an Oregon signee, are tied for the team lead with four total blocks.

Team USA’s next game is set for 5:30 p.m. Central on Wednesday against Puerto Rico. The game will be streamed on the FIBA YouTube channel.