Mike Gansey (Parma, Ohio/West Virginia) led six players in double figures with 13 points as the USA men’s basketball team led from start to finish in a convincing 94-47 win over Iran in the first game of play at the Summer World University Games in Izmir, Turkey.
Joining Gansey in double figures for the Americans were Craig Smith (Los Angeles, Calif./Boston College) and Randy Foye (Newark, N.J./Villanova) with 11 points apiece, while Matt Harayasz (Page, Ariz./Stanford), Vincent Grier (Charlotte, N.C./Minnesota) and Shelden Williams (Oklahoma City, Okla./Duke) each added 10 points.
“I thought it was a great start for us and I thought that we played with great intensity for 40 minutes and everyone contributed at the level we want to play,” said USA and Villanova University head coach Jay Wright.
The USA’s pressure defense forced 36 Iranian turnovers which led to numerous easy baskets, with the Americans connecting on 47.0 percent (34-71) of its shots from the field.
“I was very pleased with our defensive effort, no matter what the score was we kept a very intense effort each possession and I was proud of our guys for that,” Wright said.
Foye opened the game with a jump shot and a layup as the USA bolted out to a 7-1 lead after a 3-point field goal by Gerry McNamara (Scranton, Pa./Syracuse) early in the first quarter. Foye later in the quarter put an exclamation on the start with an alley-oop dunk off a pass from Gansey.
“I have been trying to do a little inside and out,” said Foye, who had nine points in the first half. “I watched a lot of Dwayne Wade (NBA’s Miami Heat) over the summertime and studied his game a little bit, and how he goes inside and out, and creates for everyone else. Mix it up, whatever the defense gives you, take advantage of it.”
Foye, who was the flag bearer for the USA delegation at the opening ceremonies on Thursday, had six first quarter points as the Americans led 23-14 after one.
The USA continued to stretch its advantage as Grier had six second quarter points pushing the USA to a 44-24 halftime lead.
Iran opened the second half with a 5-0 run, only to have the USA answer back with a 23-4 run of its own to end the quarter, with the Americans on top 67-33. The streak included two 3-point field goals by Harayasz, USA’s 6-11 center.
Behind Gansey, USA’s bench put the finishing touch on the Iranians, outscoring them 27-14 in the fourth quarter.
“I hit a couple in a row and I felt really good, once you hit a couple of shots everything else in your game feels better,” said Gansey, who had 11 of his points in the second half when the USA opened as much as a 49-point lead. “As long as we play as hard as we can and as a team, we should win some games.”
Williams, who has been nursing a sore foot, scored in double figures despite playing limited minutes in the rout.
“I think I am going to be getting more extended minutes coming up this weekend, I am starting to feel better,” Williams said. “It’s very physical over here. It took me by surprise, but I think we have responded well to a team that is coming at us like that.”
The USA will return to action on Saturday, Aug. 13 with a 3 p.m. game against Slovakia at Ataturk Sports Hall.
