USA vs. Dominican Republic

Madison Square Garden

New York, NY

7 p.m. ET, NBA TV



Wednesday night’s USA versus Dominican Republic clash at Madison Square Garden features two teams already somewhat familiar with each other. Having most recently met on July 12, 2012, in a lead-up to the London Olympic Games, the Americans recorded a convincing 113-59 victory. A sold-out crowd of 18,499 fans at Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas witnessed the 2012 USA National Team put on a dazzling display. The exhibition game, the first of five exhibition games for the ’12 USA Men’s National Team, saw Kevin Durant lead the USA with 24 points and 10 rebounds, while Andre Iguodala contributed 18 points.



The USA and Dominican Republic are scheduled to go at it again on Sept. 3 in preliminary round play at the 2014 World Cup in Bilbao, Spain. The Dominican team, which has appeared in just one prior FIBA World Cup (1978), will be directed by recently named University of South Florida head coach and former John Calipari assistant coach Orlando Antigua. The Dominican Republic will be led by Houston Rockets guard Francisco Garcia, who starred at the University of Louisville, highly touted St. Joseph High School (Metuchen, New Jersey), current University of Kentucky freshman Karl Towns, a 7-foot center, and guard James Feldeine, who played collegiately at Quinnipiac University and led the team in scoring during last summer's FIBA Americas qualifying championship.



The game is being broadcast live by NBA TV.





Just the Facts: Dominican Republic



FIBA World Ranking: #26



How Dominican Republic Qualified: FIBA Americas 4th place (6-4)



World Cup Appearances: 1



World Cup Overall Record: 2-5 (.286)



World Cup Finishes: 12th (1978)



World Cup Record vs. USA: 0-1 (65-104, 1978)



Last Senior Team Meeting vs. USA: 2012 MNT Tour (59-113)



2012 Olympic Finish: DNP



2013 Head Coach: Orlando Antigua



2013 Key Players In FIBA Americas Championship: James Earl Feldeine (14.0 ppg., 3.0 rpg., 2.2 apg.), Yack Michael Martinez (12.0 ppg., 9.4 rpg.), Eulis Baez (10.1 ppg., 6.9 rpg., 2.4 apg.).