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USA desperate comeback surprises Turkey USA avoids embarrassing loss to Turkey on Lawson’s game winning shot
It was a game that coach Linzy Davis called a defining game for his team. Turkey and the USA were both 1 – 0, going into the game. However, Turkey defeated the tougher opponent, Croatia, who defeated the defending champion France by two points in an exhibition game.
Turkey was a team on a mission. Turkey defeated France last year in pool play to take first place and set up a championship game with the USA, however, France upset the USA in the semifinals and set up a rematch with Turkey, which France won by double-digits.
The USA had their hands full with a very big and physical Turkey National Team led by NBA prospect and Turkey professional 6’7 sharp-shooting guard Cenk Akyol, who led all scorers’ with 20 points.
Turkey gave the USA a textbook lesson on how to execute the half-court game of basketball as they were flawless scoring 63% from the field, and 43% beyond the 3-point line.
Turkey commanded a 37-32 half-time lead, and entered the forth quarter leading the USA by 14 points.
However, when the game looked like it was over, the USA was able to reduce the lead to 10 points with 3:15 remaining in the game. Then the USA set up the UCLA 2-2-1 press, placing bigs on the frontline, and guards on the second line, and the USA went on a 13 – 0 run, and took a 3 point lead with 15 seconds remaining, which created one of the most exciting games in tournament history.
With 15 seconds remaining, Cenk Akyol, drove the length of the court and shot a 3-point shot over Rudy Gay with 4.4 seconds remaining, then the USA quickly inbounded the ball to Tywon Lawson, who drove the length of the court and pulled up at the free-throw line and hit the game winning shot with a second to spare, to send the USA and the capacity crowd into a frenzy celebration.
The USA was led by Rudy Gay with 15 points, eight rebounds, Tywon Lawson finished with 14 points, six assist, and three key steals, while Malik Hairston and Kevin Durant finished with 10 apiece, Spencer Hawes and Ramar Smith both finished with eight points.
Cenk AKYOL, Turkey, led all scorers’ with 20 points and added five assist and five rebounds, followed by Cemal NALGA 14 points, Emre BAYEV scored 13 points, and Yasin GORLUK finished with 11 points. |
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