Markus Howard, Troy Brown help USA top Lithuania to advance to final
Former Findlay Prep guard Markus Howard scored a game-high 16 points Friday to help the USA Men’s U17 basketball team to a 98-70 win over Lithuania in the semifinals of the FIBA World Championships in Zaragoza, Spain.
Howard shot 5-for-12 from the field, including 3-for-7 on 3-pointers in 19 minutes.
Centennial’s Troy Brown had six points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals for Team USA.
Brown made 2 of his 6 shots from the field in 23 minutes for the USA, which led 47-37 at halftime. The team outscored Lithuania 28-10 in the third quarter to pull away.
Gary Trent Jr. and Collin Sexton each added 15 points for Team USA.
The USA shot 42 percent from the field, but made only 24 of its 40 free-throw attempts (60 percent).
Lithuania shot 37.5 percent from the field and finished with 26 turnovers.
The USA will face Turkey — an 83-79 overtime winner over Spain in the other semifinal — in the gold medal game at noon Sunday.
The USA defeated Turkey 84-66 in the preliminary rounds on June 24.