Oregon's Leunen Nets 14 in U.S. Loss to Uruguay

Uruguay’s victorious effort was led by Esteban Batista’s 25 points and seven rebounds.

Oregon's Maarty Leunen scored 14 points versus Uruguay. Photo: goducks.com

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Showing its youthfulness and international inexperience, the USA Men’s Pan American Games Team (0-1) suffered an 81-72 setback to a solid Uruguay (1-0) team in each team’s opening preliminary round game Wednesday night in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The U.S. will attempt to get on the winning track Thursday when it faces Panama (0-1) in a 6:45 p.m. (EDT) game.

"They were very cohesive. Uruguay really played like a veteran team. They knew their personnel. (Martin) Osimani and (Nicolas) Mazzarino, their guards, just controlled the game and then anytime they needed to they went to (Esteban) Batista and he made a play. We've got to learn that about ourselves and how we're going to make plays down the stretch," said USA mentor Jay Wright.

D.J. White (Indiana / Tuscaloosa, Ala.) finished with 14 points and nine rebounds and Maarty Leunen (Oregon / Redmond, Ore.) recorded 14 points and seven boards to pace the U.S., Scottie Reynolds (Villanova / Herndon, Va.) was the only other American to score in double digits adding 10 points.

In Wednesday’s other preliminary round games, Puerto Rico (1-0) behind 21 points from Dallas Mavericks guard Jose Barea rolled over Canada (0-1) 82-63; host Brazil (1-0) got double figure scoring from five players and held off the U.S. Virgin Islands (0-1) for an 86-81 win; and Argentina (1-0) rallied back late to down Panama (0-1) 76-71.

The game’s first 20 minutes featured both teams battling for control as they swapped leads nine times.

Uruguay’s 6-10 forward Batista, who plays for the NBA Atlanta Hawks, kept rallying Uruguay and scored 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting in the first half.

Still, the U.S. retired to its locker room at halftime holding a 38-37 advantage.

White scored five of the USA’s first seven points of the third quarter as the Americas quickly opened up their biggest lead of the game, a seven point advantage, 45-38.

However, back-to-back 3-pointers by Uruguay captain Mazzarino closed the gap to 45-44 with 5:42 left in the third period.

Tied at 51, Leunen completed a traditional three point play to push the USA to its final lead of the game, 54-51 with 3:07 to play in the third.

Getting four points from Batista, Uruguay took command after closing the quarter with a 12-4 run that saw it grab a 63-58 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Keeping things close, the U.S. closed the deficit to 72-69 with 3:47 remaining after a pair of free throws from White.

But again Batista answered with consecutive baskets to help Uruguay turn away the rally and open a 76-69 lead and the USA team would never to get any closer.

"We've still got a lot of things to work on. I give them all the credit they came out and played good. We didn't play to the best of our capabilities, but we have two more games in pool play that we've got to pull out. We live another day. We've still got to keep playing." said White.

"We just have to go out there and play; play together and do what coach says. So, I don't think us being together only for two weeks is an excuse. Its basketball and we just have to go out there and play better. We got two more games in pool play that we've got to improve on. We gotta do it."

Uruguay’s victorious effort was led by Batista’s 25 points and seven rebound showing, while Mazzarino accounted for 21 points.

The U.S. controlled the glass and outrebounded Uruguay 40 to 29, but the U.S. shot just 41.2 percent for the game, managed to make just 3-of-321 3-point shots, and made 17-of-24 free throws.

Uruguay on the other hand, shot 50.9 percent fro the game and sank 7-of-23 3-point shots.

Wright is being assisted on the USA bench by University of Alabama head mentor Mark Gottfried and Yale University head coach James Jones.

The USA Pan American Games squad will face Panama on Thursday (6:45 p.m. EDT) and wil close out preliminary round action against Argentina on Friday (6:45 p.m. EDT). Semifinals will be held on July 28 and the finals will be played July 29.

Held since 1951 every four years in the year prior to the Olympics, the Pan American Games is a multi-sport competition open to men and women representing countries from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean.

The American male hoopsters have earned a medal in 12 of their 14 Pan Am Games appearances, including a record eight golds, as well as three silvers and one bronze.

The U.S. men currently own an 81-11 (.880 winning percentage) all-time mark at the Pan Am Games.

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