Canada continues to roll with road victory over Nicaragua

MANAGUA (Nicaragua) – After taking victory on home soil, Canada went into opponent territory at the Polideportivo Alexis Argüello on Monday night, but came out victorious once again as they defeated Nicaragua 88-46.

With the win Canada remains undefeated and sits atop Group C with a 2-0 record in the FIBA 2025 AmeriCup Qualifiers.

Jared Ruiz and Romario Ponce, who did not play Friday, were on their game early for Nicaragua, as Ruiz shot 100 percent from three-point arc for 9 points in the first quarter.

Canada has a slow start to the game as they turned the ball over six times early, before Jackson Rowe finally hit a long two-pointer to get them on the board after 3 minutes, as Canada trailed 10-4 early.

Aaron Best lit the fire for Canada, with a huge block to bucket to tie the game, before Thomas Kennedy added 3 points on the and-one, with both Rowe and Kaza Kajami-Keane scoring to push Canada on 16-0 run.

Andy Perez finally got the first Nicaragua bucket in 4 minutes of play, but a Lloyd Pandi buzzer-beater putback for Canada gave them a lead of 10 to end first quarter.

Starting slowly again in the second quarter, solid defense by Rowe caused a turnover that Rowe and Kajami-Keane connected on to get the open shot, and Canada once again lead by 10, with Rowe scoring 14 of Canada’s 30 points.

Nicaragua big man Jensen Campbell kept them in the game down low with nice finishes and size, but Canada’s depth showed as Phil Scrubb found rhythm, adding 5 points including a three-pointer.

Kajami-Keane extended the lead to 17, but Nicaragua showed fight in clawing back thanks to Ruiz and Francisco Garth, but still trailed by 16 at the half.

Canada shot 71.4 percent from two-point range while holding Nicaragua to 27.3 percent in the first half, with Rowe leading Canada tallying 15 points, 6 rebounds, and a block.

Nicaragua started 3-0 to start the third quarter, but just as they did in the first half Canada woke up to go on a 13-0 run, with Kadre Gray making a three-pointer for Canada to lead by 30.

Canada led by as many as 34 in the quarter, outscoring Nicaragua 27-11 in the third quarter to extend their lead. Ruiz and Ponce tallied 11 and 8 poitns through three quarters for Nicaragua, but could not keep up with Canada’s bench adding 24 points.

The battle that Canada won the biggest in was that they forced 26 Nicaragua turnovers while committing just 10 themselves, leading to 25 points.

Despite a fourth quarter lead, Canada continued to push and outscored Nicaragua 19-9, as every single player in Canada’s rotation added at least 4 points in the win.

Rowe led Canada with a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds as well as 2 steals, while Best added 16 points including 50 percent shooting from the three-point arc. Kajami-Keane added 7 points and 10 assists.

Ruiz led Nicaragua with 11 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, with Ponce adding 8 points, while Dalton Cacho added 6 points and 6 rebounds in the loss.

FIBA