Nov. 12-14, 2021 • Miami, Florida

The team of Trey Bardsley, Canyon Barry, Charlie Brown, Jr. and Kareem Maddox, led by Joe Lewandowski (Point Park University, Pa.), captured five straight wins and took home the gold medal for the USA at the inaugural FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup that was played Nov. 12-14 at Bayfront Park in Miami.

Against Mexico on Nov. 12, which wound up being a 22-12 win, the USA trailed 6-3 after Mexico hit its second 2-pointer at 7:28. Those were the last 2s the USA allowed Mexico, however, and from there Brown stole the ball, made a jump shot and then sank two 2-pointers to kick off a 7-0 run that gave the USA a 10-6 lead when Maddox  connected from behind the arc at 6:21. Mexico scored twice from the field to come within two points, 10-8, but consecutive scores from Bardsley restored the USA’s cushion, 12-8 at 5:07. Barry added two points on top of that to give the USA a 14-8 advantage at 3:16. The USA outscored Mexico 8-4 over the final minutes and capped the win with a 2-pointer from Maddox with 1:10 remaining on the clock. The USA forced nine turnovers in the game. Brown led U.S. scorers with seven points; Maddox had five points and seven rebounds; Barry added five points and five rebounds; and Bardsley had five points and four rebounds.

In the USA’s second game of the day on Nov. 12, which it won 22-14 over Uruguay, the game was tied at 3-3 and 4-4 before the USA found some breathing room. Brown scored and Maddox sank back-to-back 2-pointers to put the USA up 9-5. Uruguay put together a 3-0 run to bring the score to 10-8 at 5:21, but this time Bardsley hit consecutive 2-pointers, and the USA led 14-9 with 5:00 on the clock. Once more, a similar pattern repeated. Uruguay cut the margin to two points, 14-12, however, Barry sank a 2 and Brown connected from deep, and the USA was back on top 18-12 at the 3:43 timeout. Brown scored two more points to put the USA at 20 points and on the verge of the win, and Barry ended the game with a 2-pointer with 2:33 left in regulation play. Brown had eight points and four rebounds; Barry added five points; Maddox also scored five points; and Bardsley tallied four points.

In the quarterfinals against Jamaica on Nov. 14, the USA survived a comeback attempt to secure the 22-17 win. Brown got the USA started with two 2-pointers in the first minute, and the USA jumped out to a 4-1 lead. The USA kept its cushion over the next few minutes, and after an offensive rebound and score from Bardsley, led 13-7 at 5:51. Jamaica, however, reeled off seven-straight points to pull ahead 14-13 at 4:00. Jamaica fouled Maddox for its seventh team foul, and Maddox made two free throws to put the USA back in front and then scored a jumper to give the USA a 16-14 advantage. Jamaica scored on its next possession, but then Brown made another two 2s to put the USA on the verge of the win, 20-15. Jamaica scored twice, and it was 20-17, before Bardsley ended the game with a shot from behind the arc at 2:27.

Brown shot 5-of-9 from 2-point on his way to 13 points; Maddox added five points and four rebounds; and Bardsley scored four points and collected three rebounds.

The USA had a comfortable 15-7 lead at 4:50 in its semifinal, but Puerto Rico fought back with an 8-3 run that made it a three-point margin, 18-15, with 2:22 to play. Brown sank a 2-pointer at 2:08, which Puerto Rico immediately answered from deep, and it was 20-17 with 2:00 minutes to play. Barry was fouled driving to the basket, and with Puerto Rico over the seven-foul limit, would have two chances from the free throw line to seal the win. Barry only needed one try and sank his first shot to give the USA a 21-17 win with 1:56 left on the clock. Brown finished with nine points and three rebounds; Barry had five points, three rebounds and three assists; Maddox contributed four points and four rebounds; and Bardsley tallied three points.

In the championship game, there were four tied scores and the game was knotted at 12-12 before Maddox scored at 4:43 to put the USA up by one. Brazil answered to go ahead for the last time, 13-12 at 4:21, before Bardsley put the USA back on top with a 2-pointer, which was followed by a score from Barry and a 2 from Brown, to put the USA ahead 17-13. After trading baskets, Brazil was whistled for its seventh foul and was in the penalty, and Brown made one of two free throws to give the USA a 19-14 lead. Barry drove and scored for the USA’s 20^th point, Brazil reached 15 points with a score at 2:02, and Maddox ended the game with a jumper at 1:49 to give the USA the 21-15 gold medal win. Maddox had six points and six rebounds; Barry contributed six points and four rebounds; Bardsley tallied five points and three rebounds; and Brown had four points and three rebounds.

The USA’s Brown was named MVP of the tournament after he averaged 8.2 points per game, which ranked second in scoring among all men’s players. He was joined on the all-tournament team by Brazil’s André Ferros and Dominican Republic’s Diego Moquete.

Additionally, Bardsley won a silver medal in the FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup shootout competition, which was won by Barbara Cousino from Chile, while Chile’s Fernando Schuler won the shootout bronze medal.

While the USA men won gold to qualify for the 2022 FIBA World Cup, which is already had qualified for based on federation ranking points, the USA women also won 3x3 AmeriCup gold, and, by virtue of the USA’s gold medal finish at the Tokyo Olympic Games 3x3 tournament, also already had qualified for the 2022 FIBA 3x3 World Cup.

Dominican Republic (3-2) defeated Puerto Rico (3-2) 21-20 in the bronze medal game.

2021 USA 3x3 MEN'S AMERICUP TEAM ROSTER

2021 USA 3x3 MEN'S AMERICUP CUMULATIVE STATISTICS