Gaines Masterclass Powers Puerto Rico Past Ivory Coast
Dwight Gaines delivered an MVP-calibre performance, pouring in 36 points, grabbing 8 rebounds and dishing out 9 assists to power Puerto Rico to a commanding 101-85 win over Ivory Coast at the FIBA U17 World Cup.
Trailing by three points at halftime (47-50), Puerto Rico tightened their grip, emerging with a slim two-point lead (71-69) entering the final period. It was in the fourth quarter where their advantage truly solidified, as they outscored Ivory Coast 30-16 to pull away decisively.
Puerto Rico's bench depth proved crucial, contributing 35 points to the team's total compared to Ivory Coast's 23. Despite Ivory Coast holding a shooting advantage (48% to 44%), they were undone by 27 turnovers against Puerto Rico's 15, and a 62% free-throw conversion rate from Puerto Rico (21-of-34) also proved costly for their opponents.
Beyond Gaines's stellar outing, Eduyn Albino provided a significant spark off the bench with 18 points. For Ivory Coast, Raphael Ouedraogo recorded a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Nathan Djako led all Ivorian scorers with 21 points. This victory serves as a significant statement for Puerto Rico in the tournament.