Purdue's Williams, Team USA set to face Mali for U19 World Cup gold medal
Mike Carmin
Journal & Courier
HERAKLION, Greece - Purdue's Trevion Williams is one victory away from a gold medal.
Williams and Team USA advanced to the U19 World Cup championship game after dismantling Lithuania 102-67 in Saturday's semifinals. Team USA will face Mali, which beat France 76-73, on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
Williams totaled eight points, four rebounds and three steals in 16 minutes as Team USA won its sixth straight game.
Ten of Team USA's 12 members had scored by halftime, and the USA had a 31-15 rebounding lead and had forced 12 turnovers.
A 15-0 run after halftime was the turning point as USA outscored Lithuania 31-16 in the third quarter.
Jalen Green (Prolific Prep/Fresno, Calif.) finished with 18 points and six rebounds; Jalen Suggs (Minnehaha Academy/Minneapolis, Minn.) added 15 points and six steals; Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (IMG Academy, Fla./Overland Park, Kan.) contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds; Kira Lewis Jr. (Alabama/Merdianville, Ala.) was 4-of-4 from the field on his way to 11 points; and Isaac Likekele (Oklahoma State/Arlington, Texas) added 11 points.
Tyrese Haliburton (Iowa State/Oshkosh, Wis.) had seven of his team's 23 assists.
For the tournament, Williams is averaging 9.0 points and 6.5 rebounds.
Correction: Williams had three points and six rebounds in Friday's semifinal victory. The information was incorrect on Saturday's B1