USA Move Past Uruguay 83-70 to Advance to FIBA AmeriCup Semifinals

29 August 2025

USA 83, URU 70

View the USA-Uruguay boxscore here.

The USA (3-1) took down Uruguay (1-3) 83-70 on Thursday afternoon to advance to the semifinals of the 2025 FIBA Men’s AmeriCup in Managua, Nicaragua.

USA Basketball improve to 6-1 vs. Uruguay and 72-13 all-time at the AmeriCup.

The USA will face Brazil in the semifinals on Saturday (Time TBD). The two nations faced off Tuesday in the final Group Phase game with the U.S. coming away with a 90-78 win.

Saturday’s appearance will be the USA’s fifth straight in the semifinals in AmeriCups in which they have competed (2003, 2005, 2007, 2017, 2022). The U.S. and Brazil will face off in their third semifinals (1989, 2005) with each nation holding one win apiece.

Postgame Notes

So it Begins: For the second consecutive game, Tyler Cavanaugh, Jack Cooley, Langston Galloway, Jerian Grant and Javonte Smart started the game. Cavanaugh, Galloway and Grant have started every game of the tournament.

Second Half, Best Half: Facing their largest halftime deficit of the tournament at 45-38, the USA opened the half on a 10-2 run to retake the lead 48-47 and force a Uruguay timeout just over two minutes into the quarter. The USA had a 63-60 lead entering the fourth quarter and then opened the fourth quarter on a 11-4 run to build a 10-point lead. The lead became as many as 15 in the final minute of the game.

In their last two games, the USA have outscored the opposition 95-57 in the second half, including 45-25 tonight, after trailing at halftime.

Double Dose of Smart: For the second straight game, Smart led the USA in scoring with 27 points (9-13 FG, 5-7 FG, 4-4 FT). He paced the USA through a close first half with 12 points (5-6 FG, 2-3 3FG). He is the 11th player in U.S. AmeriCup history to reach the 27-point threshold. Through four games, Smart's averaging 15.0 points per game to lead the squad.

Cool and The Glass: Cooley led the USA on the boards with a game-high 12 rebounds, including six on the offensive glass. He also contributed three points, two assists and two blocks. As a team, the Americans outrebounded Uruguay 46-37, including 29-14 in the second half.

All Hands on Deck: In addition to Smart’s 27 points, Zach Auguste and Grant were also in double figures with 13 points apiece. Four players had 6+ rebounds, including Cavanaugh (8), Auguste (7) and Rob Baker (6).