By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
For the second consecutive Group B match of the 2019 FIBA World Cup, Nigeria returned from a tough situation, only to ultimately suffer defeat. On Monday, Argentina got the best of the African national team with a 94-81 victory at Wuhan.
Luis Scola scored 16 out of his 23 points in the second half, but from the first half climbed to second place in the all-time list of World Cup scorers. The 39-year-old forward marched by Andrew Gaze’s 594 points and is now only behind Oscar Schmidt who finished his legendary career with 906 points.
Scola also notched a double-double with his 10 rebounds, Patricio Garino followed with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks. Their side jumped to an early 12-point lead, but started the second half tied at 43. The Argentinians improved beyond the arc to get back in charge.
Sergio Hernandez’s national team is 2-0 ahead of the game versus Russia on Wednesday. “Our crucial move was to stop their fast breaks in the third quarter” Argentina’s head coach pointed out in the post-game press conference. “That led us to victory.”
The Nigerians fell to 0-2 and will only preserve any chance for advancing to the second round if their upcoming opponent South Korea takes down the Russians later today.
Josh Okogie poured a team-high 18 points including 3/6 from three-point range. Jordan Nwora exited early with an ankle injury and ended up with 12 points to his name.
“I am proud of my guys that fought their way back from a double-digit deficit” Nwora noted after the match and his player Ben Uzoh (4pts) admitted: “I did not do so well. We still have another game and will make our adjustments.”
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL