World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifiers: USA moves to 2-0 with 123-93 win over Nicaragua

The USA Men’s World Cup Qualifying Team closed out the second game of the opening qualifying window with a commanding 123-93 win over Nicaragua on Monday night in Atlanta. The United States experienced a cold start in the opening quarter as Nicaragua matched them possession by possession. Neither side could create separation through the first 10 minutes, with the Americans clinging to a narrow 26-25 edge after one frame. “Nicaragua is a tough team,” head coach Stephen Silas said. “They’re very good and strong and really hard to deal with. It was a tough game.” Brandon Knight (190-G-1991, college: Kentucky) sparked the Americans’ offense in the second, rattling off 11 straight points to create breathing room and push the lead to 47-36 with just over three minutes left in the half. Knight later drilled a step-back three for his 16th point, then threaded a transition dime to Ja'Vonte Smart (193-G-1999, college: LSU) to extend the advantage to 16 (56-40). The U.S. headed into the break ahead, 60-46, fueled by points off turnovers and by sharing the ball. “As a point guard, you can always pick the ball up and try to create some kind of energy, some type of spark,” Knight said. The momentum carried into the third, as Marjon Beauchamp (200-G/F-2001, college: Yakima Valley) buried three straight triples to open the half, ballooning the lead to 71-49 and firmly placing the game under American control. “Shoutout to my teammates for giving me those looks and trusting me to keep shooting the ball,” Beauchamp said. “I’ve been trying to stay consistent in my game overall.” Beachamp opened the second half, scoring 11 points in the third, while Kyle Guy (188-PG-1997, college: Virginia) scored eight of his 17 points in the frame. The United States never eased up from there, escalating the lead to as many as 33 in the fourth quarter. Beachamp continued his scoring tear, adding nine of his 26 points in the final period as the Americans powered their way to a 123-93 victory. Beachamp sank five of his eight 3-point attempts, making him the first American since Langston Galloway on February 26, 2023, to make five 3-pointers in a USA Men’s World Cup Qualifying game. Beachamp shot 9-of-13 (69.2%) from the field in the win. “You see the way he moves on the floor. He moves so easily. He does a little bit of everything,” Silas said about Beauchamp. “He shoots threes, he handles the ball, he gets to the rim, has athleticism, and has strength.” Beauchamp’s two-game total of 50 points and average of 25.0 points are the most in USA World Cup Qualifying history (dating back to 2019). The United States' ball movement proved to be the catalyst once again, as the U.S. recorded 31 assists compared to Nicaragua's 12. Knight orchestrated the offensive masterfully, finishing with 12 assists to go along with 16 points on an efficient 6-of-9 shooting. His 12 assists mark the most in a USA Men’s World Cup Qualifying game since Isaiah Thomas on November 29, 2021. “As a point guard, I try to be an extension of the coach,” Knight said. “Throughout the camp and throughout the games, we’ve been very unselfish. 34 assists. You've got to be unselfish.” Additional scoring support came from Kessler Edwards, who finished with 14 points, and Jaden Shackelford (190-G-2001, college: Alabama), who added 11. Offensively, the Americans were dialed in, shooting 57% from the field, 72.5% from inside the arc, and 40.5% from three-point range. The defense matched that intensity, forcing 20 turnovers and tallying 10 steals, which translated into 30 points off turnovers and 36 fast-break points. The USA set a record across two games as they scored 225 points (112.5 ppg), recording 25 more than the August 2022 squad that had 200 points in a pair of contests. Tonight's 123 points are the most in a USA World Cup Qualifying game since scoring 114 since Uruguay in Sept. 2018. The Americans will compete next in the second window of the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers in February. “We got two wins, and we’ll wait till February to see what happens next,” Silas said.
Courtesy of: usab.com