July 29, 2007

RIO DE JANERIO, Brazil - The USA Pan American men's basketball team finished competition with its third straight victory after downing Panama, 77-74, on Sunday (July 29). The win, which clinched fifth place for Team USA, was the third straight for the Americans, who started the Pan Am games with two losses.

Maryland senior forward James Gist played 18 minutes against Panama and scored five points on 2-of-5 shooting from the field. He went 1-2 from the free throw line and added two rebounds and one steal Sunday.

Gist played nine minutes and recorded six points and six rebounds against the U.S. Virgin Islands on Saturday (July 28) in the consolation semifinal. He went 3-of-5 from the field as Team USA captured an 84-58 victory Saturday afternoon.

Brazil captured the gold medal in men's basketball competition with an 86-65 win over Puerto Rico.

The 2007 Pan Am Games marked the second time Gist participated with Team USA. In 2003, he was a member of the USA Basketball's Youth Development Festival in Colorado Springs, Colorado as a member of the East Team.

As a junior, Gist helped the Terrapins to a 25-9 record. He started 33 games and played in every contest for Maryland last season. He was named honorable mention All-ACC as he ranked third on the team and 23rd in the ACC in scoring (12.6 ppg). Gist was the team's leading scorer in conference play with 13.9 points per contest. He was fourth in the ACC in blocked shots (2.12 bpg) and seventh in rebounding (7.2 rpg). The Silver Spring native scored in double figures 28 times as a junior and posted six double-doubles. He blocked 72 shots and ranks eighth all-time at Maryland with 154 career blocked shots.