No close calls this time as US crushes South Sudan on way to quarters

LILLE, France—The United States has lost just six games in Olympic competition so far, none against an African squad.Against a fighting South Sudan crew that nearly shocked the Americans in an exhibition match, the powerhouse squad made up of some of the biggest NBA names kept those numbers intact.

Bam Adebayo led the US with 18 points in a 103-86 win over South Sudan on Wednesday as the reigning champions sailed into the quarterfinals of the Olympic men’s basketball tournament.

USA’s #13 Bam Adebayo dunks the ball in the men’s preliminary round group C basketball match between USA and South Sudan during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, northern France, on July 31, 2024. (Photo by Sameer Al-Doumy / AFP).

“The history of South Sudan is inspiring, what they have done as a country, you have to respect that,” Adebayo said.

Team USA has never lost to an African side at the Olympics but received a scare when they played South Sudan in a warmup game in London on July 20, needing to make the game-winning play for a one-point victory.

“They made 14 threes against us in London,” USA coach Steve Kerr said. “So the whole game today was going to be about switching, staying in front of people, not letting them break us down.” —AFP, REUTERS

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