Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Former Valparaiso basketball standout Joaquim Gomes posted a double-double Wednesday at the 2010 FIBA World Championships in Turkey as his native Angola defeated Germany for the first time ever.  Gomes and former Crusader Mohamed Kone, a native of the Ivory Coast, have both started every game at the World Championships for their respective nations.

Gomes scored 16 points and ripped down a game-high 14 rebounds in Angola’s 92-88 overtime victory over Germany, scoring the first four points of the overtime period to give Angola the lead for good.  Through four of five preliminary round games, Gomes is averaging 12.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game as he has helped lead Angola to a 2-2 record.  Angola will face Australia on Thursday, and with a win would advance to the knockout stage for the first time in program history.

Meanwhile, Kone has also started every game at the World Championships for the Ivory Coast, averaging 8.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game through four games.  The Ivory Coast concludes action at the Worlds against Puerto Rico on Thursday.