
Bennedict Mathurin saved his best for last at the FIBA U19 World Cup, scoring 31 points to lead Canada to a 101-92 victory over Serbia in the bronze medal match.
Tied after three quarters, Canada entrusted Mathurin down the stretch and he delivered. The Montreal native 14 points in the fourth quarter, his athleticism too much for the Serbs.
Mathurin was unstoppable from inside the arc Sunday, connecting on 11 of 11 2-point attempts. He also made nine of 10 free throws, had three rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block all in 34 minutes.
Bennedict Mathurin flex on ’em!
31p/3r/2a/2s, 11/15 FG, 9/10 FT, 34 MIN.
#Canada | #Serbia #FIBAU19 #FIBA #TeamCanada pic.twitter.com/shBPOFqaMU
— BasketballBuzz.ca (@basketballbuzz) July 11, 2021
#Serbia 74 – #Canada 74 | End, 3Q
Bennedict Mathurin 17p/2s/1r/1a#FIBAU19 #FIBA #TeamCanada pic.twitter.com/9Or07MuWPb
— BasketballBuzz.ca (@basketballbuzz) July 11, 2021
Canada digs deep to grind out a big win against Serbia and leave the FIBA U19 World Cup with the bronze medal. Superb outing from Ben Mathurin (31 points) who brought great defensive intensity and was a force in transition and attacking the rim confidently all game long. pic.twitter.com/Ia1xtPzqEU
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) July 11, 2021
Azuolas Tubelis had a fine performance of his own on Sunday, tallying a 20-point, 15-rebound double-double in Lithuania’s 86-81 loss to Spain in the fifth-place game.
Tubelis went 6 for 16 from the field, made 8 of 12 free throws and secured 15 rebounds in 40 minutes. He also had four assists, one steal and one block.
Steal, coast to coast and one(missed the freethrow) – Ąžuolas Tubelis #FIBAU19 pic.twitter.com/hkUgrqFCsG
— LUCKYD (@imLuckyD) July 11, 2021
Incoming freshman Oumar Ballo and Mali ended the tournament with a 95-92 win over Puerto Rico in the 13th place game. Ballo had 13 points on six of nine shooting but went one of five from the free throw line. He also had nine rebounds and four blocks in 23 minutes.
Mali end their tournament on a high with a 95-92 win over Puerto Rico
El Captino, Oumar Ballo leading the way with 13 points & 9 reb pic.twitter.com/f2HDXYk3jN
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 11, 2021
Here’s how Mathurin, Tubelis and Ballo fared over seven games at the FIBA U19 World Cup:
- Tubelis (Lithuania): 29.2 MPG, 16.6 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 2.9 APG, 2.4 SPG, 1 BPG, 2.9 TPG, 44.6 FG%, 3-12 3PT, 23-35 FT
- Mathurin (Canada): 28.2 MPG, 16.1 PPG, 4 RPG, 1.9 APG, 2.1 TPG, 48.8 FG%, 34.5 3PT%, 80.6 FT%
- Ballo (Mali): 29 MPG, 12.6 PPG, 8.9 RPG. 2.9 BPG, 3 APG. 0.9 SPG, 51.9 FG%, 6-20 FT