Story provided by Bloomington Flex
DEZHOU, China – The Bloomington Flex dropped a heartbreaking 81-80 decision to the Cuban National Team in the championship game of the Four Nations International Basketball Challenge at Dezhou Sports Centre Sunday, wrapping up its tour of China with an 8-3 record.
The Flex was unable to crack the Cubans’ physical defense in the fourth quarter, scoring just 11 points. The largest lead by either team was seven, achieved by the Cubans once in the first quarter and three times by the Flex at halftime and twice in the third quarter.
The Flex trailed after one quarter, 23-21, despite eight points from Harry Marshall and seven by Bryant Austin.
In the second quarter, it looked as if the Flex offense was kicking into high gear as it outscored the Cubans, 33-24. Marshall had 15 points at the half while Austin had 12 and Justin Bocot added 10 as the Flex finished the first half with a 54-47 lead.
But the Cubans ramped up the physical play on the defensive end in the second half. Bloomington held a 69-66 lead going into the fourth quarter after scoring just 15 points in the period.
C.J. Hampton gave Bloomington that lead on a 3-pointer with the score tied at 66 with 27 seconds to play. The two teams exchanged the lead throughout the fourth quarter with the Flex holding the biggest lead at 80-76 on a Bocot 3-point play with 2:29 left.
The Cubans held Bloomington scoreless the rest of the way, scoring the winning point on a free throw with 22.9 seconds remaining. A Bocot floater in the lane with 4.1 seconds left ticked off the front of the rim and an open 14-foot Austin jumper off of the rebound rattled out as time expired.
Marshall, who finished with a game-high 24 points, and Bocot, who finished with 20, were the only Flex players to score in the fourth quarter.
The Flex travel to Shanghai from Dezhou on Monday before returning home late Tuesday.
