July 28, 2007

RIO DE JANERIO, Brazil - The USA Pan American men's basketball team picked up a 74-71 win over Argentina on Friday (July 27) to close out preliminary round play. Team USA finished the opening round with a record of 1-2 and moves to the consolation semifinals where the Americans will face the U.S. Virgin Islands (1-2) Saturday afternoon. Panama (1-2) and Canada (0-3) will square off in the other consolation semi-final.

Maryland senior forward James Gist (Silver Spring, Md./Good Counsel HS) saw action in all three preliminary round games for Team USA. Gist came off the bench and played 18 minutes in the opening game against Uruguay. He scored seven points on 3-of-6 shooting from the field and went 1-of-2 at the free throw line as Uruguay posted an 81-72 victory over Team USA.

Gist scored seven points in Team USA's 75-67 loss to Panama in the second game of the opening round. He connected on 3-of-6 field goal attempts, including a three-point shot. Gist added a rebound and two blocked shots in 20 minutes against Panama.

In the final game of the preliminary round, Gist scored two points on 1-of-3 shooting from the field. He added one rebound in seven minutes against Argentina.

Brazil (3-0) will face Uruguay (2-1) in one medal semifinal round, while Argentina (2-1) will face Puerto Rico (2-1) in the second semifinal. The Pan Am Championships will be held Sunday.