Guyana claims overtime win over A&B in Georgetown thriller

Guyana secured a dramatic 75-73 overtime win against Antigua & Barbuda (A&B) on Thursday night (July 10) at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) in Georgetown in Group Phase action of the FIBA AmeriCup 2029 CBC Pre-Qualifiers. The game was a tightly contested battle from start to finish, with both teams trading double-digit leads before the hosts found the answers in the extra period. Guyana ultimately held their nerve down the stretch to edge out a razor-thin victory in front of their home crowd.
The decisive sequence unfolded in overtime with 2:27 left on the clock. Kevon Wiggins, Guyana’s standout guard, converted a driving layup under the basket in transition after a turnover, tying the score at 73-73 and erasing A&B’s lead at a critical juncture. That play shifted the momentum, as Guyana outscored A&B 6-2 in the pivotal stretch, capitalising on turnovers and staying composed from the line.
With 1:03 remaining in overtime and Guyana leading 75-73, A&B’s Preston Merrick missed a three-pointer that could have swung the lead back in their favour. The hosts then managed the final possessions to seal the win.

Wiggins led the way for Guyana, finishing with 24 points, three rebounds, three assists, and four steals in 33:27 of action. He shot nine-of-19 from the field, including five-of-15 from two and a blistering three-of-four from deep, while going a perfect five-of-five from the line. Wiggins posted an efficiency rating of 21, and despite a -three plus/minus, he scored all six of Guyana’s points in crunch time, including the game-tying fast break layup in overtime.
Umar Rashid provided a strong supporting performance with 21 points and eight rebounds in 39:30, adding one steal, one block, and zero turnovers. Rashid shot eight-of-20 from the field and registered an efficiency of 19.
For A&B, Xavier Spencer delivered a game-high 44:01 on the floor, tallying 16 points, four rebounds, one assist, and one block. Spencer shot six-of-10 from the field, including a perfect five-of-five from two, one-of-five from beyond the arc, and three-of-four from the line, finishing with an efficiency of 15 and a -seven plus/minus.
Guyana’s biggest surge came at the start of the fourth quarter, when they unleashed a 9-0 run to turn a 48-48 tie into a 57-48 advantage. Rashid contributed four points and one rebound during this stretch, while Stanton Rose added 3 points and 2 rebounds to fuel the momentum.
Antigua & Barbuda responded with a 0-12 run spanning the end of regulation and the start of overtime, flipping a 69-61 deficit into a 69-73 lead. Jamine Charles played a key role in this burst, chipping in two points, one rebound, and one block.
Both teams enjoyed double-digit leads at different stages. Guyana’s largest margin was 10 points, achieved twice in the fourth quarter – first with 7:07 left (Guyana 60 – A&B 50) and again at 6:32 (Guyana 62 – A&B 52). A&B also built a 10-point cushion in the third quarter at the 5:05 mark (Guyana 32 – A&B 42). Despite holding that advantage, A&B could not hold off the hosts in the end.
A&B led for 21:57, while Guyana were in front for 20:08. The score was tied for a total of 2:55, underscoring just how close this game was throughout.
The contest featured 6:52 of crunch time, during which A&B outscored Guyana 6-8. It was a true down-to-the-wire finish, with Wiggins emerging as the crunch-time MVP for Guyana. He scored all 6 of his team’s points in this stretch, adding one rebound and two steals, and accounted for all of Guyana’s crunch time efficiency.
A&B controlled the glass in the clutch, grabbing six rebounds to Guyana’s three, and scored all their crunch-time points inside the arc. However, they missed all four of their three-point attempts in this span. Guyana’s perfect two-of-two from the line in crunch time proved crucial in holding on for the win.
Guyana’s overtime win keeps their AmeriCup 2029 CBC pre-qualifiers campaign alive, while Antigua & Barbuda will look to regroup after letting a double-digit lead slip away. In a game defined by momentum swings, clutch shot-making, and relentless defence, it was the hosts who found the answers when it mattered most. (FIBA Americup)