SOUTH Sudan didn't take long to score its first win in Olympic basketball, following the lead of Carlik Jones past Puerto Rico, 90-79, on Saturday inside the Pierre Mauroy Stadium.
On the Olympic stage for the very first time, the world's youngest independent state continued to open eyes as it rode a 21-7 third quarter tear to erase a six-point, 48-54, halftime deficit and erect a 69-61 lead.
The Puerto Ricans battled back and closed to within two, 73-75, early in the final frame, but a triple by Jones punctuated 13 straight points for the South Sudanese for an 86-73 edge with three minutes remaining.
Jones wound up with 19 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, showing the way for his side once more just a week after they almost upset Team USA in a tuneup game. He was backstopped by Marial Shayok with 15 markers, as well as Nuni Omot and Bul Kuol who had 12 apiece.
In all, South Sudan flexed its size, boasting of a massive 55-37 advantage in rebounds, while also imposing their will for 24 second chance points compared to just two for their opponents.
South Sudan goes at Team USA anew
South Sudan is the lone African team in the Paris Games, punching its ticket by virtue of being the continent's top team in the FIBA Basketball World Cup co-hosted by the Philippines a year ago.
Up next for the upstarts is a rematch with the heavily-favored American side led into battle by LeBron James and Stephen Curry on August 1.
READ: South Sudan comes a long way from practicing outdoors with flooded courts
Puerto Rico, on the other hand, turns its attention to a face-off with Nikola Jokic and Serbia on July 31. Jose Alvarado topped the scoring column for them in this one with 26 points and five assists, as Tremont Waters also added 18 markers and four dimes.
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