BOXSCORE

MALAGA, SPAIN (July 6, 2022) – The Canadian U17 Men’s National Team dropped an 87-63 decision to host team Spain at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022.

Playing in front of a packed gym full of Spanish fans cheering on their U17 team, it was a game of wild runs. While Canada scored the first 10 points of the game, Spain took control with a crushing 26-0 run spanning the first and second quarters.

Baraka Okojie led all scorers with a game-high 17 points for Canada. Mikkel Tyne scored 16 points and Hudson Ward added 10 points, for a Canadian team that shot 35 percent from the floor in the loss.

Aday Mara Gomez, Hugo Gonzalez Peña and Conrad Martinez Viladecans scored 14 points apiece for Spain, who shot 49 percent from the floor in the game. While Canada made 5-of-22 attempts from long-range, Spain connected on 10-of-24 attempts from beyond the arc.

A jumper from Mikkel Tyne snapped Spain’s run, but the damage was already done as Canada trailed 34-16 with 5:32 remaining in the first half. A three-point play and a pair of free throws for Baraka Okojie, followed by a steal and layup plus the foul for Ishan Sharma began to cut into the deficit. After Baraka Okojie drilled a jumper with six seconds remaining in the half, Canada went into the break trailing by 20, 48-28.

Canada shot just 29 percent in the first half and were out-rebounded 55-28 in the game, including 14-7 on the offensive glass.

After being held to 14 points in each of the first and second quarters, the Canadians began to find their footing offensively in the third quarter, going on an 11-0 run to get within 11 points, 50-39, with 7:13 remaining in the third. A three-pointer for Tyne, assisted by Baraka Okojie, brought Canada within single digits, 52-43, with 6:19 remaining in the third.

From there, the teams began to trade baskets, with Spain holding onto its advantage before a 6-0 run saw them leading Canada 66-50 after three. Despite the deficit, Canada won the third quarter 22-18.

Spain opened the fourth with a three from Sergio De Larrea Asenjo. A three-pointer from Tyne got Canada back within 16 points, but Spain responded with another three of their own to extend the advantage back to 19 points with 6:36 remaining as Canada called timeout.

With the two teams trading misses out of the timeout, a long jumper from Lucas Hernandez Langarita extended Spain’s lead to 76-55. After another three from De Larrea Asenjo, Spain led by 21 with 3:51 remaining. They would go on to close out the victory from there.

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Matt Walker, mwalker@basketball.ca