Langston Galloway scored 16 points and Joe Johnson added 14 as the United States beat Mexico 89-67 in World Cup qualifying on Sunday. The Americans (3-1) avenged their only loss at this stage of qualifying, stripping the Mexican team of their undefeated record.
The match became lopsided early on and the United States went into halftime with a 48-21 lead. With the NBA season underway, as well as the playoffs, the United States was nurtured with players from the G League.
The only thing necessary to access the next round is not to be in the last place of one of the groups of four teams. Puerto Rico and Cuba, which complete the bracket, met later.
At 40, Johnson is America’s most prominent figure — a seven-time NBA All-Star. Galloway also has a lot of experience in the NBA. David Stockton, with his father John Stockton — Hall of Famer — in the audience, scored 15 points.
The United States suffered in the first window, beating Cuba by five points and losing 97-88 to Mexico. Those games were played in Mexico last November. The US squad changed significantly and comfortably won both of its Washington games.
They dispatched 93-76 to Puerto Rico on Thursday. The next window will be in July. Mexico (3-1) was dominated from end to end by the Americans, outscored 14-0 in the final stretch of the first quarter. Fabián Jaimes led the Mexicans with 11 points.
