University of Washington recruit Nigel Williams-Goss scored nine points and added four steals, four points and four assists as the U.S. clobbered China 113-57 Friday for its second consecutive rout in the FIBA Men’s Under-19 World Championships tourney in Prague.
The U.S. forced 32 turnovers and out-rebounded the over-matched Chinese 50-14. China, which upset Russia 71-69 Thursday, led 15-12 on five three-pointers before the U.S. stretched the defense to the arc and went on a 17-2 run to decide the game. In the opener of the 16-nation tourney Thursday, the Americans beat Ivory Coast 88-29.
“A big emphasis for our team since day one is guarding the 3-point line,” said Williams-Goss, who played 25 minutes. “A couple of times early, they got free for a couple of open looks, but during the first timeout coach (Billy Donovan) really stressed the point to us again and kind of got after us a little bit. After that, we did a better job a taking it away.”
Goss, a 6-4 guard from Happy Valley, OR., via Findlay Prep in Henderson, NV., is coach Lorenzo Romar’s top recruit for 2013 and is expected to challenge for a starting job. Another player Romar wanted for the class, forward Aaron Gordon, led the U.S. with 17 points and 14 rebounds. He wound up at Pac-12 rival Arizona.