By Nick Jenkinson-SCINN Sports Director
On a Wednesday Night in Mid-July Indiana Hoosier Basketball Fans got a glimpse of 2026-27 Men’s Basketball squad as they represented the United States in an exhibition game with a 98-64 win over College Jean de-Brébeuf from Montreal and representing Canada in a tune up for next week’s FISU America Games in Lima, Peru that starts on Monday and will go through August 1st.
Wearing the White USA Jersey’s with IU Logo on the back of uniform and on the shorts. The game was played under FIBA Rules with four ten-minute quarters, the FIBA Basketball and once the ball comes off the rim you can grab it. Indiana adjusted the rules without any major issues as they get ready for tournament next week facing other college teams that will represent other countries from the Americas. “We are going to play five to six games in eight days so unlike other trips this will be more about basketball and i am looking forward to going to Peru and our goal is to win basketball games” Team USA Head Coach Darian DeVries said after the game.
Canada jumped out a 4-0 lead but the USA responded blocking shots getting steals and converting at the offensive end as they led 23-19 at the end of the first quarter. The Americans outscored the Canadians 23-13 in the second quarter to lead at halftime 46-32. Team USA increased by leading 69-51 at the end of the third quarter as the Americans outscored the Canadians 23-19 and closed it out in the fourth quarter with a 21-13 run as there were just 2 lead changes and no ties in this game. The Americans led for 36 Minutes and 2 seconds while Canada led for 3 Minutes and 8 seconds.
USA Head Coach Darien DeVries used a big lineup with 7-2 Samet Yigitoglu and 6-11 Aiden Sherill along with guards Markus Burton, Bryce Lindsay and Darren Harris. Canada’s tallest players were 6-7 Adam Ouali-Alami and Joshua Muabama Kayembe and Team USA took advantage of the height advantage scoring inside all game long and the length and size on the defensive end frustrating the Canadians the entire night.
Yigitoglu scored 6 points and this will be the only time he gets to play because he is from Istanbul Türkiye and since it’s an international event representing the United States, he will not be allowed to play in Peru along with 6-11 Freshman Clemens Solokov who is from Germany and has yet to arrive in Bloomington.
The United States place six in double figures with 16 points from Aiden Sherill, 13 points from Prince Alexnder Moody, 11 points a piece from Darren Harris, Bryce Lindsay, and Markus Burton and 10 points from Trevor Manhertz. Trent Sisley scored 9 points, Vaughn Karvala scored 6 points, Ben Winker added 5 points, Justin Monden, Drew Snivley and Ian Stephens all played but did not score. Georgia Tech Transfer Jaden Mustaf and returning walk on Jordan Rayford did not play.
Team USA was 38-74 from the field for 48%, 11-40 from three-point range for 27% and 15-20 from free throw line for 75%. The Americans pulled down 45 rebounds, dished out 20 assists, 17 steals, 6 blocks and 14 turnovers. Team USA had 38 points off turnovers, 48 points in the paint, 23 second chance points, 17 fast break points and 43 bench points.
6-5 Edouard Gauthier led Team Canada with 22 points and hit a three pointer to be the third quarter buzzer. 6-3 Mael Coutou added 18 points. Micheal Zenon Reiss and Samuel Desrochers added 7 points apiece. Isaac Pierre-Louis scored 6 points, Malek Alphonse scored 4 points. Julien Arsenualt, Nicolas Verrault, Adam Ouali-Almani, Charles Ringuette and Joshua Muamba Kayente all played but did not score and Joseph Victor Francois Burno Boulanger did not play for Head Coach Michal Chimelweski.
Canada was 23-56 from the field for 41%, 7-20 from three-point range for 35%, and 11-14 from the free throw line for 78%. Team Canada pulled down 30 rebounds, 9 steals, 6 assists, 1 block and 24 turnovers. Canada scored 14 points off turnovers, 24 points in the paint, 8 second chance points, 2 fast break points and 11 bench points.
Prince Alexander threw an ally-oop to Vaughn Karvala and then had a steal that led to a slam dunk at the other end that pleased the crowd of three thousand that were in attendance. Members of the Indiana University Football Team were in attendance to sign autographs before the game and Team USA sign autographs and pose for pictures after the game. Now Team USA (Indiana) heads to Peru for their second trip overseas in two years and the extra practice time and experience of playing together will prove valuable for the upcoming season but for now fans got a taste of what they will see this fall when the season underway and that gives them something to look forward too.