USA vs. Canada: Score and Reaction from 2015 Pan Am Games

The United States and Canada added another chapter to their sporting rivalry Friday night at the 2015 Pan American Games. In the men's basketball semifinal round, the Canadians earned a 111-108 victory in overtime to advance to Saturday's gold-medal game. 

The game was a major coming-out party for Jamal Murray. Murray is ranked as the 2015 recruiting class' No. 1 shooting guard, according to 247Sports' composite rankings.

CBSSports.com's Sam Vecenie views the future Kentucky Wildcat as a potential lottery pick in the 2016 draft:

Canada had a chance to win the game in regulation after taking a timeout with 7.7 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Canada head coach Jay Triano put the ball in Murray's hands. He couldn't create an open shot, and his running jumper was too strong and caromed off the glass.

Canada quickly put the disappointment behind it as Anthony Bennett scored five points to start overtime.

The United States played from behind for the next few minutes, chipping away at the lead with every possession. Eventually, Anthony Randolph hit a three-pointer to put Team USA up 106-104 with 1:45 remaining in the extra period.

Then Murray's back-to-back threes completely shifted momentum back to Canada, which went ahead 110-106 with just 55 seconds left. College Basketball Talk's Rob Dauster noted how Murray saved his best basketball for the game's most critical stages:

"

Jamal Murray had a quiet night, then erupted for 22 points in the 4th quarter and OT. He wore out the USA's backcourt w/ a few All Americans

— Rob Dauster (@RobDauster) July 25, 2015"

Bobby Brown got the United States to within one possession of Canada, and Team USA had the final shot of the game. Brown ran to the left corner and attempted a contested three-pointer, which was off the mark. Murray grabbed the rebound and ran out the remaining seconds on the clock.

Murray finished with 22 points, six assists and four rebounds.

For the Canadians, Friday's matchup essentially was a dream scenario. Not only could the host defeat its neighbors to the south on home soil, it would also be securing a place in the gold-medal game in the process.

Before the game, Triano said he was simply happy to have reached this stage of the tournament, per Sportsnet's Michael Grange:

"

Win or lose getting to this point has been great for our young players. To get to play in their own country and to get the experience they have against veteran international players.

I mean look at these teams. They are not young like us. They are guys who have been around the block and [our young guys] need to learn the international game and there’s not better way to do it than against these teams.

"

Between the win and Murray's star turn in the fourth quarter and overtime, Triano might be changing his tune a bit. The prospect of a gold medal is looking a little more enticing now.

Bennett, whom Grange felt was one of the best players in the entire tournament, also played a big role in Canada's win:

The Minnesota Timberwolves forward was somewhat limited by foul trouble throughout the game, playing 28 minutes, but he still posted 18 points and a whopping 14 rebounds. 

Devin Kharpertian of the Brooklyn Game wasn't sure whether Bennett's performance was an indicator as to the player's progression on the court or the quality of competition in the Pan Am Games:

Andrew Nicholson also recorded a double-double, leading all scorers with 31 points while grabbing 10 rebounds.

Brown and Randolph finished with 25 and 21 points, respectively, for the U.S. They represented the biggest source of offense for Team USA, combining to attempt 36 shots, including 16 threes.

Rebounding was certainly a decisive factor in the outcome. Canada picked up 50 boards as a team, compared to just 29 for the United States.

This game was essentially a tale of two halves.

In the first, Canada kept Team USA at bay with timely buckets. Every time the U.S. threatened to take the lead, the Canadians did just enough to remain on the positive side of the score line. They led by as many as seven, 47-40, in the second quarter, eventually owning a 52-47 halftime edge.

It wasn't exactly the kind of start the U.S. would want to have after getting thoroughly overmatched by Brazil in its final game of pool play.

Whatever United States head coach Mark Few told his team in the locker room, it worked, as the U.S. was a completely different group once the second half began.

Denzel Valentine, who had been somewhat invisible in the defeat to Brazil, sparked a big run for the United States, with three three-pointers near the end of the third quarter that put the U.S. ahead, per Sportsnet's Eric Smith:

Team USA outscored Canada by 11 points in the third quarter, carrying an 80-74 advantage into the fourth.

Canada didn't waste any time overturning that deficit. An 11-2 run to start the fourth quarter swung the game completely in the host's favor. Josh Stirn of 247Sports highlighted Murray's effort in helping get Canada on top:

The United States was far from done, though. Taurean Prince's three-pointer with a little over five minutes left in the game put Team USA to within a point, 90-89, of Canada. Damien Wilkins made it a 91-90 game in favor of the U.S. a few minutes later, which kicked off a great back-and-forth battle to close out regulation.

The bronze-medal game will be a disappointing consolation for the U.S. Even with a weakened team, many expected the Americans to reach the gold-medal game at a minimum. Instead, the best the players can hope for is third place.

They'll face off with the Dominican Republic in the first of Saturday's two games.

Canada will have a chance to win its first gold medal at the Pan Am Games. Standing in its way will be Brazil, which demonstrated its strength in a 93-83 win over the U.S.

Given the number of young players comprising Canada's roster, a first-place finish in the tournament would represent validation for what looks to be a growing power in international basketball.