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U.S. Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team Starts 2-0 at U.S. Men’s International Friendly

By NWBA, 07/09/16, 9:00PM CDT

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Colorado Springs, Colorado – The U.S. Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Paralympic Games Team started the U.S. Men’s Friendly International off with a 2-0 record, with defeats over Great Britain and Spain. The U.S. Men’s International Friendly is hosted at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, July 9-13. 

To open the first day of competition, Team USA defeated Great Britain, 72-59. The first quarter saw two lead changes, with two-time U.S. Paralympian Josh Turek of Council Bluffs, Iowa, nailing the last five points with a buzzer beater knotting the first quarter up at 18 a piece. The second half brought out a blazing U.S. team on the back of four-time U.S. Paralympian Matt Scott of Southfield, Michigan, who contributed six points for a 39-28, half-time lead.

The third quarter belonged to Great Britain who eliminated Team USA’s advantage by going on a 12-4 run in the first five minutes. Great Britain’s Terry Bywater put up six points during the third. Team USA regrouped and pulled out with a five-point lead, 53-48, to close out the third quarter. The fourth quarter belonged to the United States as Brian Bell of Forest Park, Illinois, scored six of his 12 points to seal the victory.

Overall in the first game against Great Britain, Team USA outscored Great Britain, 34-14 in the paint, and out rebounded Great Britain, 35-25.

In the second game, the United States started out fast with Bell contributing 10 consecutive points, to give Team USA a commanding 40-20 lead at halftime. Spain shut down the U.S. attack in the second half, and out rebounded Team USA 40-27 in the game. Team USA maintained its 20-point advantage for a 66-46 victory.

Leading the way for Team USA again Spain was three-time U.S. Paralympian Steve Serio of Westbury, N.Y., with 15 points, while Bell and Scott contributed 12 and 10 points, respectively.

The Colorado Springs event provides a strong field of international teams, and the event is open to the public free of charge. Fans are invited to attend the games, and must enter the Olympic Training Center through the Boulder Street entrance.

All three teams will have practices during the mornings, and then get ready for competition in the evenings, that will be played at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. MDST daily.

The U.S. Men will only have one game on Sunday, July 10 at 6 p.m., going against Great Britain to close out the second day of competition. On Monday, July 11, Team USA will see action against Spain at 4 p.m., and then will not have any games on July 12. USA will close out the competition on July 13 against Spain and Great Britain, at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively.

Last week, the U.S. Men’s Team went a perfect 5-0 in Great Britain to win the Challengers Cup, which included victories over 2014 World Champion Australia, and a defeat of host Great Britain on July 4. To win the Challengers Cup, USA edged out the Netherlands, 63-61.

The U.S. team will open the Rio 2016 Paralympics on Sept. 8, against host country Brazil in the Rio Olympic Arena. The U.S. men’s team qualified for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games by winning the 2015 Parapan Am Games in Toronto, Canada. The U.S. men outscored the competition by 36 points per game.

The U.S. men’s team finished with a bronze medal at the London 2012 Paralympics and look to improve in Rio de Janeiro. The men’s team finished seventh in 2004 and fourth in 2008, following bronze-medal performances in 2000 and 1996.

U.S. Head Coach Ron Lykins of Columbia, Missouri, will be joined on the sidelines will be assistant coaches Robb Taylor of Auburn, Alabama, and John Sikora of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Scott Meyer of Columbia, Missouri, will serve as the Team Leader, with Mary Vacala of Savannah, Georgia, filling the athletic trainer position. Also assisting in preparations are strength coach Michael Cohen of Savannah, Georgia, and team psychologist Dr. Roberta Kraus of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The officials for the competition will be Beth Uhlrich of Denver, Colorado, Buddy Barnes of Decatur, Alabama, and Joe Sloan of Columbia, Missouri.