USA, Jordan in Jones Cup final

For the Times West Virginian

TAIPEI, Taiwan July 18, 2008 01:56 am

— It will be USA’s Athletes in Action vs. defending champion Jordan in the final of the 2008 Jones Cup Basketball Tournament on Friday night.
The No. 1-seeded Americans (7-1) advanced with a 97-90 victory over No. 4 Qatar (4-4), while No. 2 Jordan (6-2) defeated No. 3 Australia (4-4) 75-60 in Thursday’s semifinals.
A pair of North Dakota State teammates led the AIA to its seventh straight win. Brett Winkelman and Ben Woodside combined for 57 points. Winkelman had 31 points and eight rebounds and Woodside 26 points, five assists and two steals.
W.A. Saeed had 31 points for D. Mousa 29 for Qatar.
The American team will be seeking to avenge its only loss of the tournament against Jordan, which won the two teams’ first meeting on opening day.
Australia actually led Jordan by one point at halftime, but lost its poise against the more experienced 2007 champions. Jordan outscored the Aussies 21-8 in the game-changing third quarter of a physical contest.
Idaus paced Jordan with 23 points and 11 rebounds.. Z. Alkas had 13 points and six rebounds, while J.A. Shmala chipped in 12 points.
West Virginia University’s Da’Sean Butler and Wellington Smith will be winding up their experience with AIA in the championship game.