By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Nigeria has a history of upsets in pre-Olympic tournaments, after leaving Greece out of the London Olympics, and Canada played with fire. Still the Canadians got the 2-0 wins and secure their spot in the semifinals of the Manila pre-Olympic tournament, while the winner of the game Turkey versus Senegal will also qualify.
The players of Jay Triano managed to survive and get the close 58-55 win. The eventual winners had a small lead for most of the game, but naturalized guard Clevin Hannah missed the three point shot in the last minute which could have given the lead to Senegal with the Canadians leading by two (55-53). Before that, a big three by Maleye Ndoye cut the lead to one (51-50) and Corey Joseph and Tyler Ennis reacted with a 4-0 run (55-50). Maurice Ndour, the best player of Senegal (15 p., 10 r.) who finished the season in Real Madrid, answered with a three and Hannah, who also played in Spain for Bilbao, couldn’t make the most crucial shot of the game.
Joseph locked the win by making 3 out of 4 free throws for a total of 13 points and in the last possesion with 3 seconds left on the clock Hannah missed one more three, finishing the game also with 13 points. NBA champ Tristan Thompson was also a key for the Canadians with 7 points and 10 rebounds.