Team USA advanced to the gold medal game at the FIBA U18 Americas Championship with relative ease Saturday night.
Behind 17 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks from Oregon signee Kel’el Ware and a solid team effort on the defensive end, it blew past Argentina for a 98-60 victory in Tijuana, Mexico. Through five games at the event, Team USA has won four by at least 35 points.
Arkansas basketball signee Anthony Black also had no issues turning opponents’ shots away in the semifinal round. A standout on defense in the win, the 6-7 guard finished with 5 blocks and 1 steal in his 17:31 on the floor.
According to the USA Basketball Men’s U18 National Team fact sheet, Black’s five blocks match the individual single-game record set by James Banks in 2016.
He now has 42 total rebounds, 22 assists against 10 turnovers, 11 blocks and 10 steals – all team highs – in 5 games.
Team USA, which led by as many as 45 points in the game, had 10 total blocks. Argentina shot only 28.3%.
Offensively, Black pitched in 9 points on 2 of 5 shooting and 4 of 6 at the free throw line. He knocked down his lone three-point attempt, which came from the left wing following a kick-out by Ware and put Team USA ahead 61-30 in the third quarter.
Although he played less than half of the available minutes in the game, Argentina was outscored by 30 points when Black was on the floor. His plus/minus was second best on the team behind Ware, who was plus-37.
Team USA will face Brazil in the gold medal game on Sunday at 7 p.m. Central.
The game will be streamed on FIBA’s YouTube channel.