Colorado Springs, Colorado – Team USA kept an unblemished record at the second day of the 2016 U.S. Men’s Wheelchair Basketball International Friendly by defeating Great Britain, 67-43, at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center. Four-time U.S. Paralympian Matt Scott of Southfield, Michigan, propelled the offense Sunday evening, while two-time U.S. Paralympian Trevon Jenifer of Huntington, Maryland, covered the defensive side of the court. 

Team USA moved out quickly in the first quarter, and at one point had an 11-point lead, with credit to 2014 World Championship silver medalist Aaron Gouge of Wake Forest, North Carolina, accounted for nine of his 11 points in the first quarter. In the waning moments of the first, Great Britain brought its deficit to eight as they sank four points from the charity stripe.

Jenifer, who came in with three minutes left and played 27 minutes overall, pulled down a couple offensive boards for second chances for Team USA.

In the second half, Team USA maintained its eight-point lead, 32-24, with Jenifer forcing Great Britain to only shooting 6 for 14 from the floor, while Scott started his scoring streak with six points in the final five minutes of the second.

The United States started the third quarter in high style as Scott drained two consecutive three-pointers, giving Team USA a 38-24 lead, the biggest of the game at that point. The defensive pressure picked up for the Americans as they shut down Great Britain, who only shot 35 percent from the floor. Team USA spread the ball well as six different U.S. Paralympians scored, extending its lead to 17 at the end of the third, 51-34.

The intensity maintained as the closing stanza was much like the prior quarter as Jake Williams of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, scored the first four points, which was followed up by another Scott three-pointer, for a 58-39 lead. The defensive prowess of Team USA maintained its front holding Great Britain to only 9 points in the fourth, for a fourth-quarter efficiency of 21 percent.

In the closing minutes of the game, Scott drained his third and final three-pointer of the night and finished leading Team USA with 15 points. Three-time U.S. Paralympian Steve Serio of Westbury, New York, found double digits with 10 points and five rebounds. Also joining on the defensive side with five rebounds apiece was Mike Paye of Warren, Michigan, and Josh Turek of Council Bluffs, Iowa.

The U.S. Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Paralympic Games Team started the U.S. Men’s Friendly International on Saturday with a 2-0 record, by defeating Great Britain and Spain. The U.S. Men’s International Friendly is hosted at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, July 9-13. All games are open to the public free of charge.

Great Britain opened the second day of the five-day event by defeating Spain, 67-52. Ian Sager was hot on the floor scoring 18 points, while Phil Pratt and Kyle Marsh found double digits, 13 and 11, respectively. Alejandro Zarzuela was the leading scorer for Spain with 12 points.

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.

On Monday, July 11, Team USA will see action against Spain at 4 p.m., and then the United States 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.