OTTAWA, Ontario — Team USA carried a one-point lead into the final minute against Germany on Sept. 15, but Germany answered on the next possession and closed out a 67-64 win at TD Place, handing the Americans the loss and eliminating the U.S. men from medal contention.

The margin remained tight throughout. Team USA led 14-13 after the first quarter and 29-28 at halftime before Germany took a 44-43 advantage into the fourth.

Jorge Salazar led Team USA with 26 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 12-for-20 from the field. Jacob Williams finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, and Brian Bell added 14 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.

EARLY ADVANTAGE

Salazar scored twice early as Team USA built an 8-4 advantage. Bell and John Boie also converted during the opening stretch.

Germany worked back into the quarter and took a 13-12 lead on a Thomas Böhme jumper with 33.9 seconds remaining. Salazar answered just before the horn to put Team USA back in front 14-13.

Bell said Team USA executed parts of its defensive plan well against a German team that finished at 49.2 percent from the field.

“We did a lot of things well,” Bell said.

SECOND-QUARTER RESPONSE

Germany built a 20-16 lead in the second quarter before Team USA responded.

Salazar scored to make it 20-18, and Williams then hit a three-pointer at 5:18 to put Team USA ahead 21-20. Germany regained the lead on a Tobias Hell basket before Bell answered to make it 23-22 USA.

The lead continued to change hands. Williams connected from three again with 28.6 seconds left in the half, sending Team USA into halftime ahead 29-28.

Team USA controlled the rebounding margin, finishing with a 39-26 advantage and collecting 10 offensive rebounds. Germany, however, committed only four turnovers compared with nine for Team USA.

“We missed some easy bunnies, too, which didn’t help, and some turnovers as well,” Bell said.

GERMANY MOVES AHEAD

Germany opened the third quarter with baskets from Alexander Budde and Böhme to take a 32-29 lead.

Team USA continued to stay within one or two possessions. Bell scored eight points in the quarter, including three field goals and two free throws, while Salazar cut the deficit to 42-41 with 1:52 remaining.

Aliaksandr Halouski scored 10 points in the third, including four field goals and two free throws. Böhme’s basket with 1:22 left helped Germany carry a 44-43 advantage into the fourth.

All five Team USA players who appeared logged 40 minutes. Bell said afterward that the team could have gone deeper into its rotation and shown Germany a different defensive look.

“We know next time we’ll be able to rotate a little bit more,” Bell said, adding that Team USA might also use “a little bit faster press lineup.”

FOURTH-QUARTER LEAD CHANGES

Williams tied the game at 48 with a three-pointer at 8:19. Germany moved back ahead 52-48 before Trévon Jenifer and Salazar combined to pull Team USA even at 52.

Salazar then scored on consecutive possessions, including a basket with 4:24 remaining that put Team USA ahead 56-54. Germany answered immediately. Halouski hit a three-pointer, and Nico Dreimüller followed with another field goal for a 59-56 lead.

Team USA responded again. Jenifer scored to make it 59-58, and Salazar scored twice in the final two minutes, including a basket with 1:16 left that put Team USA ahead 62-61.

Budde answered for Germany to make it 63-62, but Williams restored the Team USA lead with a jumper at 48.2 seconds. Germany came back on the next possession, with Budde scoring at 37.6 seconds for a 65-64 advantage.

LATE DEFENSIVE STAND

Team USA had another opportunity after Bell missed with 11.4 seconds remaining. Salazar collected the offensive rebound and attempted another shot, but Halouski blocked it with 8.3 seconds left and secured the rebound.

Böhme made two of three free throws with 0.6 seconds remaining to complete the 67-64 final.

The loss ended Team USA’s path to a medal at the 2026 IWBF World Championships for Men. Bell said the group still has to become better at converting close-game situations into wins.

“It’s not going to always blow out teams,” Bell said. “So, you’ve got to be able to win those tough games.”