A night after a win for the ages, Canada's U23 Men's National Team came up just short to USA, who completed their undefeated GLOBL JAM campaign with a gold medal after a 89-72 victory.

The University of Kentucky represented Team USA at the event, finishing with a 4-0 record over the week. USA was led by a 23-point performance by Justin Edwards, while Tre Mitchell added 18 points, 11 rebounds and five assists and Antonio Reeves added 18 points in the victory.

Addison Patterson led Canada with 20 points in the loss, Telfort added 12 points, nine rebounds and three blocks and Aidan Warnholtz and Elijah Mahi added 10 points apiece off the bench.

“It was an amazing event,” Patterson said. “It was a great experience [for me] last year [as well], and this year was amazing too, but it was even better getting to give a little more on the court. Getting a little more time out there, it was kind of surreal. I haven’t played at home in like five years, so it was an amazing, amazing feeling.”

The feeling of suiting up for Canada is something that will always hold special meaning for Patterson.

“I’ve done it a few times and that feeling, your hair stands up when the anthem plays,” Patterson said. “The feeling never goes away. It’s an extreme feeling of pride.”

Team USA led by nine after the opening 10 minutes and held a six-point lead, 45-39, at the half as Canada won the second quarter 25-20 behind a 13-point second quarter effort from Patterson. After Thomas Kennedy made one of two free throws with 14 seconds remaining in the half, Patterson grabbed a steal and scored on a layup to close the half and get Canada within six.

Canada remained within striking distance for much of the third quarter, as a three-pointer for Telfort brought Canada within six with 3:43 remaining in the quarter, but Team USA closed the third on a 14-1 run to break the game open and take a 72-53 advantage into the fourth. Canada’s lone point in the final 3:43 of the third came on a free throw from Warnholtz.

Despite the deficit to start the fourth, Canada opened the quarter aggressively on both ends of the floor. Mahi opened the fourth with back-to-back buckets for Canada, but Team USA still held a 15-point lead with 8:49 remaining.

A three from Reeves and a layup from Edwards gave the USA its largest lead of the game, 77-57 with 8:18 remaining as Canada called timeout.

After another set of back-to-back buckets from Mahi, the USA called timeout as they continued to led by double figures, up 79-65 with 4:19 remaining.

Though Canada continued to pressure the USA defensively until the final buzzer, they were unable to gain any distance as the USA responded at every hint of a Canadian run. Canada kept pace with the Americans in the fourth, winning the quarter 19-17, though the game was already out of reach.

“Alll of our guys had no quit,” Team Canada head coach Nathaniel Mitchell said. “They continued to play hard, they did everything I asked. Credit to [Team USA] and their play, but I really love how our team competes. They never give up.”

Canada advanced to the gold-medal game after a thrilling comeback win from 17 points down in the third quarter against Germany on Friday. The defensive energy and intensity from that game carried over against the USA, though it may not have been reflected in the final score.

“The tournament was tough,” Mitchell said. “Really good teams, night after night. Really well put on by our federation. The competition was stiff. I thought it was a really good opportunity for our country to see basketball at this level.”

With the loss, Canada settles for silver at GLOBL Jam and finishes with a 2-2 record, both losses coming at the hands of the Americans.

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