Men's World University Games Team downs Russia

BELGRADE, Serbia   -- Corey Fisher (Villanova / Bronx, N.Y.) scored 15 points and Deon Thompson (North Carolina / Torrance, Calif.) added 12 to go with nine boards as the 2009 USA Men's World University Games Team (2-1) earned a 67-63 hard-fought defensive battle over Russia (1-2) in the 2009 Serbia International Invitational on Monday night in Belgrade.

In addition to Fisher and Thompson, Da'Sean Butler (West Virginia / Newark, N.J.) and Robbie Hummel (Purdue / Valparaiso, Ind.) added eight points each and Jarvis Varnado (Mississippi State / Brownsville, Tenn.) posted seven points and six rebounds, while Evan Turner (Ohio State / Chicago, Ill.) grabbed eight boards.

"The guys got it done tonight with hustle opportunities," said USA and University of Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan. "(Evan) Turner, (Robbie) Hummel and Deon (Thompson), those guys, especially at the end, they were everywhere. Corey (Fisher) and Talor Battle. I just really like the way they stuck their noses in there."

"Our team defense got better," said Fisher, who also had three steals. "We came out with a lot of energy. That is one thing we talked about in the locker room before the game - to come out with toughness and play for each other."

With the game even at 50-apiece heading into the fourth quarter, Russia's defense held the USA to one field goal in the first 7:30 of the final stanza and went up 61-56 at 4:24 on a Alexy Zhukanenko put-back. That bucket would be Russia's final field goal of the contest as the USA's defense turned the tables and held Russia scoreless from the field to close out the game.

Following a Turner free throw at 2:39, Fisher banked in a jumper at 2:30 to net the USA's first field goal since Thompson hit a turn-around jumper at 9:32 and close to 61-60.

The Americans disrupted Russia on the other end as a pass went out of bounds. The U.S. pushed the ball up the court and Battle threaded a pass inside to Thomson, who gave his side a 62-61 edge with 1:55 to play. Neither team was able to score on their next possession, and with a little more than minute to play Russia hit a pair of free throws to retake the lead, 63-62.

In the final minute of action, Battle drove to the hoop, but his shot was off the mark. The USA had three players under the basket and tried twice to put the ball in the hole before Thompson was fouled on an attempted tip-in with 39 seconds remaining. He missed both tries from the line. However, Hummel crashed the boards, grabbed the rebound and  put the ball in the hoop for the final lead change of the game.

"Deon made a good move to the basket, and he got fouled," said Hummel. He was at the line shooting two, and he missed the first one. So I was thinking maybe he would try to compensate with the second one. It came off the rim, and my guy didn't really box me out, so I just did the best I could, and I was fortunate that it went in."

"When I saw him tip it in, I was so happy," said Thompson. "That's why you have teammates. Teammates help you out when you mess up. Robbie definitely gave me a lift when he tipped that ball in."

On the other end Dramir Zibirov's shot was off the mark, but the U.S. touched the ball last and Russia had another chance with 5.7 seconds to play. The USA's foes called a time-out to draw up a game-winning play. However, the Americans wouldn't allow the Russians to inbound the ball and got the ball back. Zibirov was called for an intentional foul while the U.S. was trying to get the ball into play, sending Talor to the line. He hit his first and missed his second try, but the USA got the ball back due to the intentional. Fisher was then sent to the line with 4.5 seconds to play and nailed both his shots to ice the win.

"It's a real confidence booster," said Varnado. "Russia is a good team. We played together, we faced a little adversity and we stuck with it. We got the win, so that's a big confidence boost."