Photo|Mike Yoder, Lawrence Journal World

Courtesy KU Athletics

JEOLINAMDO, Korea – July 7, 2015– Behind 23 points from guard Frank Mason III, the USA men’s basketball team jumped all over Chile from the start in posting a 106-41 win in its third contest of the World University Games Tuesday at Muan Indoor Gymnasium in Jeolinamdo, Korea. The facility is located an hour west of Gwangju, the host city for the Games. 

With the win, the USA, which is comprised mainly of University of Kansas student-athletes and staff, improved to 3-0 in Pool D play, setting up a contest of undefeated teams when it will play Serbia on Wednesday, July 8, at noon local, 10 p.m., July 7 in Kansas. Also on Tuesday, Serbia defeated Turkey 61-43 to improve to 3-0. The top two of six teams from each of the four pools will play in the medal bracket in the World University Games.

Guard Nic Moore recorded two of his four first-half three-pointers within the first three minutes of the game. Guard Wayne Selden, Jr., sandwiched another three-pointer between Moore’s two to give the Americans a 9-2 lead. On USA’s next possession, Perry Ellis made a lay-in and then Carlton Bragg, Jr., hit a jumper to pile onto the Americans’ quick start, 13-2. USA led 22-11 at the end of the first quarter. Bragg, without his mask worn from a broken nose suffered in practice, started the game for USA.

Selden ended the contest with 18 points, while forward Hunter Mickelson scored 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Moore had 15 points, all from three-point range. Ellis had nine points and eight rebounds, while forward Landen Lucas led all rebounders with 14 boards to go along with six points. All-in-all, 11 of the 12 USA players reached the scoring column for the contest. Fernando Schuler led Chile with 17 points.

“We haven’t shot the ball over here very well at all,” head coach Bill Self said. “So it was great to come out like this and Nic (Moore) got us out to a good start. Of course, Wayne (Selden, Jr.) is playing at a ridiculously high level right now. Frank (Mason) made shots. Even though it wasn’t as competitive of a game, it was good to see our guys score real points to give ourselves a big lead.”

Mason led all scorers with 23 points, which included three traditional three-point plays. He had all 11 of his first-half points in the second quarter, which included two three-point plays and another trey. USA took its largest lead of the first half, 47-19, which was the halftime score, when Mason completed his second three-point play with 1:30 before intermission.

“It was huge,” Ellis said of the start. “We haven’t been getting out to quick starts these first couple games and coach was emphasizing that. We got out tonight and knocked down some shots and played some great defense. It was great for us.”

The second half was more of the same as the USA team scored 11 of the first 13 points after intermission with Mason scoring six, Selden three and Ellis two on one of many dunks for the Americans for the contest. In the fourth quarter, the USA team went on a 16-0 run to make the score 100-36.

USA dominated the boards for the second-straight game. The Americans outrebounded Brazil 50-27 on July 5 and then Chile, 52-28, Tuesday afternoon. 

UP NEXT

The USA team will return to Dongkang College Gymnasium to take on Serbia in the battle of the Pool D undefeated teams on Wednesday, July 8, at noon, which is 10 p.m. on July 7 in Kansas. The game will be televised on ESPNU and seen on the Watch ESPN app.