South Sudan secures first ever Olympic victory with win over Puerto Rico

After Sunday’s victory over Puerto Rico, South Sudan will play the United States on Tuesday.

• Download the NBA app
• 2024 Olympic Games: Full Coverage

VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France (AP) — Carlik Jones scored 19 points and South Sudan came back in the second half to beat Puerto Rico 90-79 in the opening game of the Paris Olympics for both teams on Sunday.

It was the first Olympic basketball victory for South Sudan, which is making its first appearance at the Olympics after qualifying as the top African finisher at last year’s World Cup. Marial Shayok added 15 points for South Sudan, which faces the United States on Tuesday.

Puerto Rico led the entire first half of Group C play, but was disrupted late in the second quarter when leading scorer Jose Alvarado was forced off with an apparent ankle sprain. He returned early in the third quarter and finished with 26 points and five assists. Tremont Waters added 18 points.

But South Sudan took control in the closing stages and built up a lead of no less than 13 points with just over three minutes left to play.