Team USA Takes 5th Place at Pan Am, Defeats Panama

U.S. Team Defeats Pamana 77-74 In Pan Am Games Action Sunday
Dorsey has five points, three boards, three steals in victory.

July 29, 2007

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - After an 0-2 start, the United States bounced back to win three-straight contests at the 2007 Pan American Games, the last victory a 77-74 win over Panama to capture fifth place in the men's basketball competition. The U.S. avenged an earlier 75-67 setback to Panama on Thursday.

The U.S. finished the Pan Am Games with a 3-2 record, while Panama was 2-3. Brazil (5-0 record) won the gold medal with an 86-65 win over Puerto Rico (3-2), which took home the silver. Uruguay (3-2) defeated Argentina (2-3) 99-93 in overtime to claim the bronze.

University of Memphis' Joey Dorsey played 19 minutes and had five points, three rebounds and a game-high three steals. It was the third-straight game in which the Tigers' 6-foot-9 forward played double-digit minutes, and all were U.S. victories.

The contest was tied at 20-all after the first quarter, but Panama rushed out to an 11-point halftime advantage at 43-32. The U.S. responded in the third period, cutting Panama's lead to two points at 56-54. The Americans out-scored Panama 23-18 in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.

Derrick Low (Washington State) led the U.S. with 16 points, while Shan Foster (Vanderbilt) and D.J. White (Indiana) each added 14 points. White, Roy Hibbert (Georgetown) and Maarty Leunen (Oregon) each grabbed six rebounds to lead the U.S. on the glass.

Dionisio Gomez and Danilo Pinnock each scored 17 points to lead Panama.

For the first time at the 2007 Pan Am Games, the opposition out-rebounded the U.S., as Panama held a narrow 35-33 advantage on the glass. However, the Americans responded with a solid defensive effort, while shooting 50.9 percent from the floor. The U.S. held Panama to 39.4 percent from the field and forced them to turn the ball over 15 times.