HEADLINE‍

Canada opened the FIBA U19 Men’s Basketball World Cup 2024 with an 86-53 loss to Spain on Saturday in Debrecen, Hungary. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

- It was Spain that hopped out to an early lead in the opening quarter, before proceeding to outscore Canada 12-3 in the final 3:52 of the frame to take a 14-point lead into the second.

-While Canada was able to keep the remaining three quarters closer, unfortunately the early defect was too much to overcome. Spain outscored Canada 59-46 in the final three quarters and was able to close out the win to move atop Group A.

CANADA HIGHLIGHTS

- Michael Nwoko had a strong first game at the World Cup, registering a team-high 18 points on 7-14 shooting, to go along with four boards and two steals.

- Elijah Fisher and Jordann Dumont each tallied eight points — second most among Canadian scorers. Fisher struggled to find his feel from the field, but made six of his nine attempts from the stripe, and also hauled in a team-high seven rebounds. Dumont went 3-5 from the field and connected on two of Canada’s four three-pointers made in the contest. 

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‍HISTORY FILE

- Nwoko’s 18 points matches Caleb Houstan and Zach Edey’s total vs. Lithuania in the 2019 edition of the tournament for the most points in the opening game of the FIBA U19 Men’s Basketball World Cup by a Canadian since RJ Barrett’s 20 points in 2017.

- Spain recorded their first victory over Canada at a FIBA U19 Men’s Basketball World Cup since 2017 with the win. Canada was victorious in quarter-final action in the 2021 edition of the tournament, after receiving 25 and 24 points apiece from Houstan and Edey. Elijah Fisher, who is a member of this year’s Canadian roster, registered two points in the 2019 win.

‍NEXT UP 

- Canada will have the opportunity to bounce back immediately, as Group A action continues on Sunday. Next up is a meeting with China, who fell 83-63 in the first game of their World Cup on Saturday to France. 

- The two countries last met at a FIBA U19 Men’s Basketball World Cup in 2013 — a game Canada won 110-100.

- Tip off is scheduled for 9:00 am ET / 6:00 am PT. All the action can be streamed on the FIBA YouTube Channel.

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