JUAREZ, Mexico — The USA men passed its first test in the knockout stage on Friday, June 6.
The American routed Brazil, 129-50, at the 2025 FIBA U16 AmeriCup quarterfinals, taking quick control.
“I was really pleased with the way we came out,” USA head coach Scott Fitch said. “I thought we were better on defense; I thought we executed better offensively, especially in the first half. I feel pretty good leaving the game – just got to get better for the next one.”
The USA will now gear up to face the winner of Puerto Rico vs. Argentina matchup in the semifinal round on Saturday at 7:30 EDT.
Marcus Spears Jr. was the catalyst for the Americans early for the second consecutive game. Spears Jr. scored 5 points within the game’s first two minutes as the red, white, and blue gained a quick 7-0 advantage. Jordan Page also added 5 points of his own. His corner 3-pointer with 5:08 remaining in the first quarter forced Brazil to use their first timeout, with the U.S. leading 16-4.
Out of the timeout, Colton Hiller found his range, splashing a 3-pointer from the right wing. Hiller struggled from deep on Wednesday against Argentina, but scored 16 points against the Dominican Republic on Tuesday. Hiller hit his second 3-pointer of the first quarter with 1:12 remaining, giving the Americans a whopping 36-10 lead.
Nasir Anderson’s powerful left-hand dunk with 36 seconds remaining gave the Americans 38 points to Brazil’s 13. Anderson ended the quarter with a team-high 9 points, shooting 4-for-4 from the field.
In the second quarter, the U.S. outscored its point tally by posting 42 points in the frame, leading to a dominant 80-26 lead going into halftime. Anderson put up 6 points in the quarter and would go on to end the game as the team leader in points with 19. Anderson used his athleticism underneath for easy layups all afternoon, making all 9 of his 2-point attempts and finishing 9-for-10 from the field overall. His playmaking was also on display, posting a double-double with 10 assists.
Mason Collins added 6 points in the second quarter himself, ending the game in double-digits with 10 points.
The Americans’ scoring slowed down in the third quarter, posting 24 points in the frame. Still, they retained control of the matchup and headed into the fourth quarter leading 104-44. A.J.Williams continued his stellar play in the tournament by logging 8 points in the third quarter. He finished as the team’s second-highest scorer with 17 points. He shot the 3-ball well, going 3-for-7 from downtown. Williams was also a force on the glass, tying the team high in rebounds with 9.
The U.S. failed to set the all-time single-game points record (138) in the fourth quarter, but scored 25 in the frame to end with 129 points. Spears Jr. showed off his versatility throughout the contest, grabbing 9 rebounds to go along with his 16 points.
— From USA Basketball Communications
