Marial Shayok Shines as South Sudan Nearly Upsets Team USA
In an electrifying basketball game featuring icons like LeBron James and Stephen Curry, it was Marial Shayok, the former Virginia men’s basketball standout, who captivated the audience. Shayok netted an impressive 24 points as South Sudan almost achieved a historic upset against the formidable United States Olympic Men’s Basketball Team. Despite a stellar first-half performance, South Sudan narrowly lost 101-100, thanks to a decisive layup by James. Shayok’s stats included 9/16 shooting, with 6/12 from three-point range, plus three rebounds, two assists, and two steals. His playing time saw South Sudan outscoring Team USA by three points.
Remarkably, South Sudan led by as many as 16 points in the first half. Yet, the American team rallied back in the second half to capture the lead. The drama peaked in the final minute with Shayok reducing the deficit to two points, followed by a clutch three-pointer from JT Thor putting South Sudan briefly ahead. In a signature move, LeBron James drove to the basket for a game-sealing layup, leaving South Sudan unable to convert their last possession.
Although falling just short of victory, Shayok and South Sudan delivered a performance to remember. Born in Ottawa, Canada, Shayok played at Virginia before transferring to Iowa State for his final college season. South Sudan has another opportunity to face Team USA on July 31st at the Paris Olympics, setting the stage for a highly anticipated rematch.
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