BOXSCORE

TIJUANA, MEXICO (June 7, 2022) - The Canadian U18 Men’s National Team dropped a hard-fought 97-92 decision to Argentina on Tuesday at the FIBA U18 Americas Championship 2022. Canada lost despite a 23-point effort from Vasean Allette and 22 points from Elijah Fisher as the team couldn’t slow a stellar Argentinean offensive effort down the stretch in a game that saw 13 lead changes.

Canada battled back from a 10-point halftime deficit to go into the fourth trailing by just four. The Canadians took the lead multiple times in the final frame, getting within two points after a layup from Jordann Dumont forced Argentina into a timeout with 1:31 remaining. Though the teams traded layups out of the timeout, Argentina’s Dylan Bordon added to a brilliant fourth-quarter effort with a three-point play to extend Argentina’s lead back to five. Canada wouldn’t get any closer in the final 31 seconds.

Bordon finished with 17 points in the game, while Lee Aaliya also added 17 points, and Juan Bocca scored 16, including five three-pointers. Bordon was a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor. Michael Nwoko and Thomas Ndong added 12 points apiece with Nwoko also grabbing nine rebounds for Canada. Argentina shot 56 percent in the game, including 43 percent from beyond the arc where they made 10 of their 13 attempts from deep in the first half as they built that 10-point halftime advantage. In comparison, Canada finished the game shooting 42 percent from the floor. The Canadians were unable to find the range on Tuesday, finishing just 1-for-18 from beyond the arc.

Though the first quarter was close, with Canada holding a one-point lead after the opening 10 minutes, Argentina’s offence started to click in the second quarter where they outscored Canada 31-20 to build that 55-45 lead at the break. Argentina shot 61 percent in that first half, including a blistering 10-for-18 from beyond the arc as the team recorded 17 assists on 20 made field goals. In comparison Canada made just 1-of-10 attempts from deep in the half.

Canada’s strongest defensive effort came in the third, holding Argentina to just 15 points in the quarter, to get back into the game and trim the lead to four heading into the fourth. Though their comeback ultimately fell short, the Canadians continued to push and bring it to Argentina until the final buzzer sounded.

Up next for Canada is a matchup against Brazil on Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET.

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