ESSEN, Germany – After being down near the entirety of the semifinal matchup against Team Lithuania, Team USA, represented by Baylor men’s basketball, found a way with grit and determination to advance to the championship game of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games on Thursday night, coming from behind to win 72-64.
The fourth quarter played a crucial turning point for Team USA, as America outscored Lithuania 22-7 in the final 10 minutes at Grugahalle. Big buckets from JJ White, who went three-for-six from behind the arc, and Dan Skillings Jr., who led the team with a double-double of 17 points and 13 clutch boards, were the keys to success for USA to put on an 18-2 run to take the lead and advance themselves to play for gold.
Team USA (5-0) will turn its focus on Team Brazil (5-0) in the battle for a gold medal on Saturday, July 26th, at 8 p.m. local time (1 p.m. CT).
THE RUNDOWN
Team Lithuania (4-1) made the first two baskets of the night, the first time in four games that Team USA began trailing However, a jumper and a lob up top to Cameron Carr put USA on the board. But Lithuania didn’t let down easily, going up by 13 points with less than five minutes left of the first quarter.
USA kept working, cutting its deficit to six points with the help of an all-out effort rebound from Skillings, leading to a three from Obi Agbim to end the first quarter 22-16, Lithuania. Agbim finished the night with 12 points, eight rebounds and team-leading five assists.
Both teams came out slow in the second quarter, only scoring four points each after the first five minutes of play. Team USA outscored Team Lithuania in the second quarter 15-13, chipping away at the lead. The pace of play was tough to maintain through the first half as a total of 28 fouls were drawn between the two teams. At the half, USA trailed 35-31.
A reverse layup by Skillings followed by an and-one gave Team USA a spark to keep chipping away, only trailing by one possession. Carr kept USA in the battle, reaching 14 points at the end of the third. Samson Aletan of Yale gave USA some crucial buckets and offensive rebounds, hitting double-digits for the first time in the tournament. Heading into the final 10 minutes, USA still fell behind 57-50.
The fourth quarter is where Team USA finally found its groove, going on a massive 18-2 run. A second-chance bucket from behind the arc for Agbim put USA in reach, only trailing by three. A crucial three by White put USA tied at 59-all. Two big buckets by Skillings and Caden Powell gave USA the lead for the first time of the night with 4:25 left in the game, 63-59. USA didn’t let up, going up by as much as nine points to survive and advance to the championship, 72-64.
WHAT’S NEXT
Team USA (5-0) will take an off day before turning its focus on Team Brazil (5-0) in the battle for a gold medal on Saturday, July 26th, at 8 p.m. local time (1 p.m. CT). Fans can follow along on FISU.tv or Baylor Radio.
The fourth quarter played a crucial turning point for Team USA, as America outscored Lithuania 22-7 in the final 10 minutes at Grugahalle. Big buckets from JJ White, who went three-for-six from behind the arc, and Dan Skillings Jr., who led the team with a double-double of 17 points and 13 clutch boards, were the keys to success for USA to put on an 18-2 run to take the lead and advance themselves to play for gold.
Team USA (5-0) will turn its focus on Team Brazil (5-0) in the battle for a gold medal on Saturday, July 26th, at 8 p.m. local time (1 p.m. CT).
THE RUNDOWN
Team Lithuania (4-1) made the first two baskets of the night, the first time in four games that Team USA began trailing However, a jumper and a lob up top to Cameron Carr put USA on the board. But Lithuania didn’t let down easily, going up by 13 points with less than five minutes left of the first quarter.
USA kept working, cutting its deficit to six points with the help of an all-out effort rebound from Skillings, leading to a three from Obi Agbim to end the first quarter 22-16, Lithuania. Agbim finished the night with 12 points, eight rebounds and team-leading five assists.
Both teams came out slow in the second quarter, only scoring four points each after the first five minutes of play. Team USA outscored Team Lithuania in the second quarter 15-13, chipping away at the lead. The pace of play was tough to maintain through the first half as a total of 28 fouls were drawn between the two teams. At the half, USA trailed 35-31.
A reverse layup by Skillings followed by an and-one gave Team USA a spark to keep chipping away, only trailing by one possession. Carr kept USA in the battle, reaching 14 points at the end of the third. Samson Aletan of Yale gave USA some crucial buckets and offensive rebounds, hitting double-digits for the first time in the tournament. Heading into the final 10 minutes, USA still fell behind 57-50.
The fourth quarter is where Team USA finally found its groove, going on a massive 18-2 run. A second-chance bucket from behind the arc for Agbim put USA in reach, only trailing by three. A crucial three by White put USA tied at 59-all. Two big buckets by Skillings and Caden Powell gave USA the lead for the first time of the night with 4:25 left in the game, 63-59. USA didn’t let up, going up by as much as nine points to survive and advance to the championship, 72-64.
WHAT’S NEXT
Team USA (5-0) will take an off day before turning its focus on Team Brazil (5-0) in the battle for a gold medal on Saturday, July 26th, at 8 p.m. local time (1 p.m. CT). Fans can follow along on FISU.tv or Baylor Radio.