Wichita State’s Ron Baker scores 15 in overtime loss at Pan Am Games

The United States will play for the bronze medal in the Pan Am Games, despite Ron Baker’s late-game performance, after a 111-108 overtime loss to Canada on Friday in Toronto.

The U.S. will play the Dominican Republic in the the third-place game at 10 a.m. Saturday, extending a gold-medal drought that started in 1987. Canada will play Brazil for the gold medal.

Baker, a senior at Wichita State, finished with his tournament-high 15 points, three steals and two assists. He scored 11 of his points after halftime, including a key sequence late in the fourth quarter. A steal by Baker led to a basket by Damien Wilkins and a 91-90 lead. Canada retook the lead on a dunk by Anthony Bennett. Baker’s step-back jumper put the United State up 93-92. He scored again in the lane for a 95-92 lead.

In overtime, Baker produced a similar run with a basket, steal and another basket to give the U.S. a 103-102 edge.

Canada’s Jamal Murray, however, trumped him. Murray, a freshman-to-be at Kentucky, scored 22 points, all in the game’s final 15 minutes.

He made two three-pointers for a 110-106 lead. The U.S., down 111-108, got the ball with nine seconds to play before Bobby Brown missed a three from the corner.

Brown led the United States with 25 points on 8-of-20 shooting. Anthony Randolph added 21.

Andrew Nicholson led Canada with 31 points.

Canada outrebounded the United States 50-29 and grabbed 17 offensive rebounds.

A long three-pointer by Baker cut Canada’s lead to 62-59 midway through the third period. The U.S. took a one-point lead before Nicholson scored to put Canada up 64-63. The U.S. outscored Canada 33-22 in quarter to go up 80-74 entering the fourth period. It made 5 of 7 three-pointers and forced five turnovers to create the rally.

This story was originally published July 24, 2015 at 7:46 PM with the headline "Wichita State’s Ron Baker scores 15 in overtime loss at Pan Am Games."