MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina — Someone forgot to tell the 2005 USA U21 World Championship Team that it was playing in the fifth place game. The U.S. young men, feeling they were still the best team in the tournament, came out and made an early statement and dominated host Argentina from the start for an eventual 111-85 victory Sunday evening to close out the 2005 FIBA U21 World Championship.
J.J. Redick, who poured in 14 of his 22 points in the first half, helped the Americans put away Argentina in the first 20 minutes. Leading 29-13 at the end of the first quarter, the USA was up 61-29 by halftime. Justin Gray notched nine of his 16 points in the first half, while Nick Fazekas and Rudy Gay closed the game with 15 points each and Curtis Withers scored 14 in just 13 minutes of play.
The USA out rebounded Argentina 43-29 and shot a deadly 50.7 percent (36-71 FGs) from the field and 36.7 percent (11-30 3pt FGs) from beyond the arc. Additionally, the U.S. squad held Argentina to 41.2 percent (28-68 FGs) from the field and just 20.0 percent (4-20 3pt FGs) from 3-point. In a foul-plagued contest that heard 61 whistles, Argentina went 25-of-33 (.758) from the line and the North Americans shot 28-of-39 (.718) at the stripe.
LSU sophomore Glen Davis played 17 minutes in the contest, scoring two points with six rebounds.