La Rioja, Argentina and Montevideo, Uruguay • November 29-December 2, 2018

Faced with the difficult task in window five of playing road games against strong Argentina and Uruguay national teams, USA head coach Jeff Van Gundy directed his squad a critcal split which insured the United States men of a 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifying berth.

Despite starting the game by scoring the first 12 points and jumping out to a 12-0 lead, the USA was unable to sustain its scoring and fell to Argentina 80-63 on Nov. 29, 2018, in front of passionate, at-capacity home crowd number 11,000 plus in La Rioja, Argentina.

The win earned Argentina sole possession of first place of the FIBA Americas World Cup Qualifying second round Group E, and the USA fell to second place.

“Argentina is a tremendous team, and after the first five minutes they kicked our butts,” said USA head coach Jeff Van Gundy. “And, give them all the credit, they played a terrific game on both ends of the floor.

“We had a rough night all around. I don’t think there were a lot of positives for us in this game, and so much of sport is about when you get your butt kicked how you respond. We’re together three more days, we get another chance on Sunday (versus Uruguay), and hopefully we play much better,” added Van Gundy.

The USA held Argentina scoreless for more than four minutes to start the game, and behind points supplied by four different U.S. players, including back-to-back 3-pointers to open the game from Julian Washburn and Travis Trice, the USA jumped out to a 12-0 lead with 4:47 left in the opening quarter.

Argentina got its offense on track and fought its way to within three points by the end of the first quarter, and the USA led 16-13 after the first 10 minutes. The USA held onto its lead until the final minute of the second quarter and trailed at halftime, 35-32, after Argentina scored the first half’s final three points from the foul line.

Washburn opened the third quarter with a U.S. basket to cut Argentina’s lead to 35-34, but Argentina responded with an 8-0 run to pull ahead 43-34. The Americans trailed 48-40 with 2:41 left in the third, and Argentina capped the quarter with a 10-0 run that resulted in the USA being outscored 23-8 in the third period.

Argentina carried a 58-40 lead into the game’s final 10 minutes, and although the U.S. cut the deficit to 63-50 after a Scotty Hopson basket with 6:11 to play, Argentina turned back the rally with six consecutive points and sailed on for the 80-63 win.

“We just didn’t really execute, and we didn’t hit shots,” said USA guard Trice. “You have to give them credit, they came out with a lot of energy. We made the first punch, and they answered back.”

Trice led the USA scoring with 16 points and added four assists, Reggie Hearn, Hopson and Chasson Randle each accounted for nine points.

The USA narrowly lost the rebounding battle as Argentina recorded 45 rebounds to the USA’s 44. Tyler Zeller accounted for 12 rebounds for the USA, while Eric Moreland added eight. 

"Defensively we were great. We were down 61-54 and things going not well for us – ejections, losses of poise, and then we defended well and made some big shots, some big 3s," said Van Gundy. “Eric Moreland was terrific tonight."