LAUSANNE, Switzerland – Members of the Purdue Basketball team capped off a successful FIBA U19 World Cup competition over the weekend, highlighted by sophomore Daniel Jacobsen winning gold with USA Basketball.
The American squad defeated Germany 109-76 in the championship to go undefeated in all seven games, winning all seven of their games by at least six points. The team won by an average of 39.0 points per game in wins over Australia, France, Cameroon, Jordan, Canada, New Zealand and Germany. USA Basketball surpassed 105 points in six of the seven games.
Jacobsen, a 7-foot, 4-inch center from Chicago, averaged 6.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game while making 20-of-33 (.606) shots from the field. He ranked second among all players in the field in blocked shots with 13, despite playing just 12.3 minutes per game.
His best performance came in the round of 16 victory over Jordan with 15 points, five rebounds, five blocks and two assists while going 7-of-9 from the field. Jacobsen blocked at least one shot in all seven games he played.
The gold medal is Jacobsen’s second with USA Basketball, after winning Gold in the 2018 FIBA AmeriCup last summer. He and the late Caleb Swanigan are the only Boilermakers to win at least two gold medals with USA Basketball.
Mayer, meanwhile, was an early MVP candidate for team Israel after leading his country to an undefeated record in pool play and a spot in the quarterfinals. The Israeli team, which was making its first appearance in the U19 World Cup, finished seventh after losing to Slovenia in the quarterfinal and Australia in the consolation bracket, before defeating Switzerland in the seventh-place game.
Mayer finished the tournament playing in just four games, ranking second in the field in scoring (20.0 PPG), while averaging 5.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.0 steals per game, ranking ninth in steals. He shot 38.2 percent from 3-point range (13-of-34) in the four games.
Mayer put on one of the best individual performances of the tournament, tallying 33 points with seven assists, five rebounds and four steals in a dramatic come-from-behind win over Cameroon in the round of 16. He was 12-of-26 from the field, 5-of-12 from 3-point range and 4-of-5 from the free throw line, while committing just one turnover in 38 minutes.
He scored 24 points with four rebounds and four assists in the opening win over Switzerland.
Unfortunately, Mayer suffered a minor finger injury in the loss to Slovenia in the quarterfinals and missed the final two games.