After stunning Germany in an 84-81 comeback victory in overtime, Canada's U23 Men's National Team has advanced to Sunday’s gold-medal game against Team USA, represented by the Kentucky Wildcats, in dramatic fashion.

Canada pulled off the upset after falling behind by 17 points late in the third quarter. With 4:32 remaining in the third and Germany leading 57-40, Canada used a furious defensive stand to force overtime and take control in the extra session as they closed the game on a 44-24 run in front of an overjoyed crowd at Mattamy Athletic Centre on Saturday night.

“We went 11 deep today,” Team Canada head coach Nathaniel Mitchell said. “I’m just really proud of their grit and their tenacity on the ball to create turnovers. [I’m] really impressed with how these guys showed some heart and competitive nature, for sure.”

Enoch Boakye led Canada with 18 points (on 8-for-9 field goals), to go with seven assists in the win. Aidan Warnholtz added 17 points, Addison Patterson scored 14 points and Jahmyl Telfort added 12 points.

“I really challenged Enoch after the last game to come out and play hard and he did that,” Mitchell said. “Aidan really stepped up making plays in the pick-and-roll, finding his teammates and making big shots. That’s what he does. I’m really proud of those two, and really proud of my team in general for playing hard.”

Kellen Tynes changed the energy of the game late in the third quarter with his defensive effort and intensity. The Nova Scotia guard finished with 12 points, nine assists and a game-high nine steals as he helped Canada force Germany into 26 turnovers that they turned into 30 points.

“There’s a reason why he was picked to be on the team and there’s a reason why we start him to start our defensive intensity,” Mitchell said of Tynes. “I think it's really special. It's high-level, NBA special [defence], to be honest. As he continues to grow, with the rest of his game, I think he’ll have a chance to make a lot of money. Right now as a good player, as a good defender, he’s helping us win.”

Malte Delow led Germany with 22 points in the loss while Jonas Mattiseck added 19 points and eight assists.

After a close first half, Germany took a two-point advantage, 38-36, into the break.

Things shifted as Germany opened the second half on a 19-4 run to take a 57-40 lead with 4:29 remaining. With the game on the verge of being out of reach, Canada began clawing their way back. Tynes attacked the rim, earning free throws with a minute remaining in the third. He made one of two free throws and then he stole the ball on the next possession, scoring inside to get Canada within 13 points with 58 seconds remaining in the third.

After a block from Tynes and then a steal from Adam Paige, Tynes drilled a three-pointer to beat the third-quarter buzzer and get Canada within 10 points, 60-50, heading into the fourth.

Unfortunately for Canada, the start of the fourth coincided with a scoring drought that lasted until the 4:55 mark of the quarter when Patterson hit a three to give Canada their first points of the quarter as Germany led 66-53.

After a free throw for Germany's Elias Baggette, Germany led 67-53 with 4:37 remaining. Over the final 4:37 minutes of regulation, Canada forced six turnovers on Germany as they closed on a 16-2 run to force overtime. A Tynes steal led to Telfort scoring inside to tie the game at 69 all with 58 seconds remaining.  

Delow drilled a three to open overtime and move Germany in front by three, but Canada quickly responded with a layup for Patterson. Free throws for Telfort put Canada in front, 73-72, for their first lead since the second quarter. They didn’t trail again.

With the victory, the Canadian Men’s U23 squad will join the Canadian Women’s U23 Team in playing for gold in their respective gold-medal games on Sunday. After playing through the fourth and overtime with four fouls, Warnholtz was elated that the team will continue to push for gold on Sunday.

“It feels good,” Warnholtz said. “You know they were beating us pretty good in the first half. It was good for us to come together as a team and really stick with it through the whole time. Going into tomorrow I know we’re in a good spot as a team so I'm really excited for it.”

Canada will take on Team USA, represented Kentucky in the men’s gold-medal matchup on Sunday, July 16 at Mattamy Athletic Centre at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m PT.

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