Cordoba and Mar del Plata, Argentina - August 5-14, 2005

Despite not accomplishing their goal of defending the USA's gold medal at the 2005 FIBA U21 World Championship, the 2005 USA U21 National Team posted a pair of victories against eventual gold medalist Lithuania, compiled an overall 11-1 record on the summer, and finished among the top performers in most major statistical category at the U21 Worlds, held Aug. 5-14 in Mar del Plata, Argentina. Additionally, the U.S. team tied Lithuania as having the best team in the tournament at 7-1.

2005 USA U21 World Championship Team 2005 USA RESULTS (7-1) USA 117 China 50 USA 103 Lithuania 83 USA 94 Puerto Rico 79 USA 113 Nigeria 78 USA 82 Slovenia 79 Canada 93 USA 90 (OT) USA 99 Puerto Rico 79 USA 111 Argentina 85 2005 FIBA U21 WORLD CHAMP. FINAL STANDINGS 1. Lithuania (7-1) 7. Puerto Rico (4-4) 2. Greece (*6-2) 8. Slovenia (2-6) 3. Canada (*4-4) 9. Nigeria (2-4) 4. Australia (*6-2) 10. Israel (*2-4) 5. USA (7-1) 11. China (0-6) 6. Argentina (*4-3) 12. Iran (DNC) * Record includes forfeit by Iran

Opening with a 117-50 victory over China on Aug. 5, the USA had six players score in double digits led by Rudy Gay's 18 points. Downing eventual gold medalists Lithuania 103-83 on Aug. 6, the U.S. received 17 points apiece from Rajon Rondo and Marcus Williams. On Aug. 7 the young Americans put away Puerto Rico 94-79 with the help of 20 points from Allan Ray. Following a day off, the USA tossed Nigeria 113-78 as Redick's 22 points led six of his teammates in double-digit scoring. Closing out preliminary play on Aug. 10, the USA's balanced scoring attack saw Curtis Withers score a team-high 15 points as the squad edged Slovenia 82-79.

Despite having five players score in double digits, including Ray's 16, The U.S., which rolled through preliminary round play unscathed with a 5-0 record, fell in a must-win game against Canada on Aug. 12. Losing 93-90 in overtime relegated the United States to playing for fifth place, while Canada advanced to the medal semifinals.

The USA rebounded and came back the next night to take a 99-79 victory over Puerto Rico as Ray and Justin Gray contributed 17 and 16 points, respectively, on Aug. 13.

The U.S., behind 22 points from Redick, closed the competition with a 111-85 downing of host Argentina in the fifth place game on Aug. 14.

Lithuania, which also finished with a 7-1 record, took the gold medal with a down-to-the-wire 65-63 victory over Greece, while Canada earned bronze by virtue of a 79-74 win over Australia.

Prior to the U21 Worlds, the U.S. team captured the 2005 Global Games gold medal with a 4-0 record, including a 91-86 victory over Lithuania, July 27-30 in Frisco, Texas.

The USA's 101.1 ppg. scoring average was well-distributed among the 12 team members as six averaged in double digits and an additional three scored no less than 7.0 ppg. each. Ray led the way (12.3 ppg.), followed by Justin Gray (11.8 ppg.), Rondo (11.0 ppg.), Redick (10.8 ppg.), Gay (10.5 ppg.) and Curtis Withers (10.3 ppg.). Nick Fazekas (6.6 rpg.) and Withers (6.3 rpg.) paced the squad on the glass; Rondo passed off for a team best 4.5 apg., and Williams dished out 4.1 apg.; while Rondo's 27 steals (3.4 spg.) not only led the team but set a new USA U21 record.

This year's squad peppered their names throughout the USA U21 record books. In addition to Rondo's 27 steals overall for a new competition record, he doubled the previous single-game steals record after nabbing eight versus China and tied the record for most field goals made with nine versus Nigeria. Redick eclipsed the previous record of a perfect 6-of-6 from the line with 8-of-8 made against Canada; Ray went a perfect 5-of-5 from 3-point land to go on top of that category; and Redick twice connected on six 3-pointers, tying the previous record for 3-point attempts. Further, Gay's 12 blocked shots surpassed the previous USA U21 tournament record of eight.

2005 USA Men's U21 World Championship Team Cumulative Statistics