Team USA just barely beat South Sudan, 101-100, in their exhibition game on Saturday night.
The first half was tough for the U.S. It trailed by 14 points at halftime but started to come back in the third quarter. With the game coming down to the wire, LeBron James was the one to close out the game with a game-winning layup with eight seconds remaining.
“LeBron, he had a great game. Don’t get me wrong, really a great second half,” Ountae Campbell said on NESN’s “Hold My Banner” podcast. “The first half, he was the reason that they were down to be honest, turning the ball over. He eventually figured it out and stopped trying to shoot the three ball, put his head down and went to the rim which is why he’s the best.”
James led the U.S. with 23 points but South Sudan’s Marial Shayok led all players with 25 points, going 6-of-12 on 3-pointers.
Despite the U.S. winning the game, Campbell and George Balekji believed that South Sudan should have come out on top.
“(The USA) gave the game away, USA should have lost it,” Campbell said. “I know everyone’s proud of what they accomplished and everything like that but if I’m South Sudan, I’m pissed.”
For more on the game, listen to NESN’s “Hold My Banner” podcast on YouTube or Spotify in the links embedded above.
