The United States World University Games Team played in the Serbia International Invitational over the weekend as a tune up for the World University Games. Team USA split the two meetings beating Canada 85-81 and falling to Serbia 98-92.
Deon Thompson scored 10 points, six rebounds and two blocks in the win over Canada but had a little foul trouble against Serbia. Thompson had 7 points and two rebounds. Based on this excerpt from the game story it sounds like Serbia may have benefited from some home cooking with the refs:
The USA entered the second half with six players showing at least two fouls each, Craig Brackins (Iowa State / Palmdale, Calif.) was whistled for three in the first half, and Serbia wasted no time taking it to the U.S. big men. Trevor Booker (Clemson / Whitmire, S.C.), Lazar Hayward (Marquette / Buffalo, N.Y.) and Deon Thompson (North Carolina / Torrance, Calif.) each picked up their third fouls and Brackins was called for his fourth just 3:13 into the third period. At the 4:07 mark, Thompson collected his fourth and Serbia, which put on a full-court press early in the second half and was a perfect 8-of-8 from the line, was on top 66-55. By the end of the third quarter, the hosts held a 12-point, 76-64, advantage.
Wow. That is officiating that would make a Duke fan blush. Serbia won the FT differential 46-32 despite being called for only three fewer fouls. Hopefully the officiating will be more even handed against Russia today at 12:30 PM EDT.