OTTAWA, Ontario — The United States men created a 16-point halftime advantage and protected a double-digit lead through the second half in a 65-55 win over Spain on Sept. 16 at Carleton University in the 2026 IWBF World Championships for Men.

Jake Williams finished with 25 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals in 36 minutes, leading the U.S. in scoring while contributing across the box score. Jorge Salazar added 19 points on 9-of-15 shooting and four rebounds. Together, Williams and Salazar accounted for 44 of the Americans’ 65 points.

The win leaves the U.S. with one game remaining in Ottawa. The Americans will face Japan in the fifth-place game to close their World Championship schedule.

FAST START

Spain scored on the opening possession, but Williams answered with a three-pointer to give the U.S. its first lead. Salazar followed with a basket, and Brian Bell added another as the Americans began establishing their half-court offense.

The U.S. led 23-15 after 10 minutes.

SECOND-QUARTER SEPARATION

The U.S. pushed the margin to 15-9 midway through the quarter after a Trévon Jenifer steal led to a Salazar basket and Williams assisted Bell on the next possession. Williams scored six points over the final four minutes of the period, while Paul Schulte’s late steal set up Salazar for the final basket of the quarter.

Spain stayed within reach early in the second quarter and cut the deficit to 27-20 on an Ignacio Ortega Lafuente jumper with 4:14 remaining.

The U.S. then produced its strongest run of the game.

Salazar scored after collecting an offensive rebound to make it 29-20. Jenifer stole a Manuel Diaz Lorenzo pass and found Fabian Romo for a jumper. Salazar followed with another basket and converted the ensuing free throw before Romo turned another Spain turnover into a layup.

Salazar closed the half with a jumper with six seconds remaining.

From the moment Spain pulled within seven, the U.S. finished the half on an 11-2 run and went to the break ahead 38-22.

The possession numbers were a significant part of the difference. Spain committed 18 turnovers compared with nine for the U.S., while the Americans recorded 10 steals. The U.S. also finished with 11 offensive rebounds to Spain’s four.

That gave the Americans considerably more opportunities at the basket. The U.S. attempted 72 field goals compared with 49 for Spain. Spain shot 44.9 percent from the field to the Americans’ 41.7 percent, but the U.S. finished with eight more made field goals.

SPAIN RESPONDS

Spain outscored the U.S. 17-13 in the third quarter, but the Americans answered often enough to keep the lead in double figures.

Romo scored two early baskets, including one off a Williams assist. Later, Williams hit a jumper for a 44-29 lead and answered another Spain basket with one of his own.

With Spain trailing 48-36, Williams stole an Óscar Onrubia Gonzales pass and assisted AJ Fitzpatrick for a basket that restored a 14-point advantage. Spain scored three of the final four points in the quarter, leaving the U.S. ahead 51-39 entering the fourth.

FOURTH-QUARTER CONTROL

Williams opened the final quarter with a jumper. Salazar scored with 7:31 remaining, and Williams followed with a three-pointer 44 seconds later to extend the lead to 58-41.

Spain continued to score, but the margin remained in double figures. Williams connected on another three-pointer with 3:34 remaining, then made a jumper before assisting Salazar for a 65-50 lead with 1:38 to play.

Spain scored the final five points before the U.S. closed out the 65-55 result.

Williams finished 11-of-25 from the field with three three-pointers. Salazar shot 60 percent, while Romo added eight points in 8:37. Schulte contributed five rebounds and four assists, and Jenifer finished with five rebounds, three assists and three steals.

The U.S. finished with 19 assists, 10 steals and nine turnovers. After creating the separation before halftime and maintaining it through the second half, the Americans now turn to their final game of the tournament against Japan with fifth place at stake.