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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

U.S. rolls past Panama in basketball World Cup qualifying, 78-48

U.S. player Derrick White dribbles past Panama's Daniel Giron during the third quarter of a FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 qualifier game in Panama City, Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. (Arnulfo Franco / Associated Press)
Associated Press

PANAMA CITY – Reggie Hearn scored 12 points, Dwayne Bacon added 10 and the U.S. easily got past Panama 78-48 in a qualifying game Monday night. The Americans have won both of their second-round qualifying games so far, winning them by a combined 87 points.

The U.S. outrebounded Panama 50-34, held the hosts to 31 percent shooting and trailed for only 67 seconds in the early moments.

And now, Nov. 29 – the next day of qualifying games in the Americas Region – sets up as enormous.

The U.S. and Argentina are tied atop Group E with 7-1 records and will play that day with outright control of first place in the group standings up for grabs. Uruguay and Puerto Rico will meet that same day, each entering with 5-3 records, meaning the loser there will be three games behind the U.S.-Argentina winner with three games left in qualifying.

The top three teams in Group E are guaranteed spots at the World Cup.

After the way they played Monday, it seems like only a staggering collapse would keep the Americans from qualifying.