June 29, 2009
Belgrade, Serbia, June 29, 2009 - The USA Men's World University Games Team went 2-1 in three exhibition games, which concluded Monday with a 67-63 victory over Russia in the 2009 Serbia International Invitational in Belgrade. The event was an exhibition prior to the beginning of World University Games competition on July 3. Over the weekend Team USA downed Canada 85-81 on Saturday and fell 98-82 to host Serbia on Sunday.
Penn State guard Talor Battle (Albany, N.Y.) was one of four players to reach double-figures for Team USA in the loss to Serbia on Sunday. Battle scored 10 points to join Evan Turner (16), Corey Fisher (12) and Da'Sean Butler (10) in double-figures. Battle was 2-of-6 from three and added two rebounds in 21 minutes of action.
In Saturday's victory over Canada, Battle had five points, three assists, a rebound and a steal, but shot just 1-of-7 from the floor in 23 minutes of action.
Team USA came back from a 61-56 deficit with 4:24 to play Monday to down the Russians who were held without a field goal the remainder of the game. Battle had five points, two assists and two steals in 18 minutes in the game as both teams shot around 36 percent from the floor. Battle's backcourt mate Fisher (Villanova) led Team USA with 15 points.
"Tonight's game was exactly what I thought it would be, and it's what we were very concerned with," said USA and University of Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan following the contest with Serbia. "They sent a message. They are bigger and stronger inside. They are going to take it there, and they are going to try to shove it down our throats. When we try to do the same at the other end, we have to learn about the contact and what officials are going to call. The main thing is not to overreact to how a game is being called. It's a different game, and for some of our guys, the extra step really hurt. The Serbians really know how to use that. We were thinking we were in position to take a charge, and they took one more step to go by the defensive player."
The United States is set to open World University Games play on July 3 against Finland (2:00 p.m. EDT) and faces South Korea on July 4 (2:00 p.m.). Second round action is scheduled for July 6-7, quarterfinals will be played July 9 and medal semifinals are slated for July 10. The gold medal will be contested on July 11 (3:00 p.m. EDT).
The World University Games is organized by the International University Sports Federation and held every other year. The 2009 men's basketball competition will feature 26 teams vying for gold July 2-11. Eligible athletes for the USA team must be currently enrolled in a college or university and have remaining NCAA athletic eligibility.
The United States has claimed a medal in every World University Games men's basketball competition since beginning play in 1965 and has captured a record 13 gold medals, three silver medals and two bronze medals in the 18 WUGs in which a USA Basketball squad has competed. Entering the 2009 competition the USA owns an amazing 125-7 record in World University Games play.
-NITTANY LIONS-