Echenique Scores 12 In Olympic Debut For Venezuela

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Gregory Echenique became Creighton's first former basketball player to appear in the Olympics since 1936 on Saturday night when Venezuela faced Serbia in Group A pool play in Rio de Janeiro. Though Serbia won the game, 86-62, it's not a stretch to say that Echenique was the best player on the floor for Venezuela, which was playing in the Olympics for the first time since 1992.

Echenique got the start in his Olympic debut, and quickly went to work. He led Venezuela with four points and three rebounds in the first quarter as his team trailed 18-14. Echenique had his second dunk of the game early in the second quarter to make it 28-19. But Serbia would close the half on a 16-2 run, with Echenique being whistled for his second and third fouls in the final minute of the quarter, which helped the Serbs take a 44-23 lead into the break. Echenique had six points and three rebounds at the intermission, both team-highs.

He scored again in the first minute of the third quarter, only to pick up his fourth foul just 15 seconds later and be relegated to the bench, as Serbia's lead grew to 68-41.

Echenique returned to the court in the fourth quarter, dishing an assist and converting a lay-up to reach double-figures. He would later add a spin move in traffic, converting the hoop amid contact but missing the free throw for a potential three-point play.

He would finish the game with 12 points to tie for team-high honors, adding five rebounds and an assist in 24 minutes of work. He shot 5-for-7 from the field and 2-of-3 at the charity stripe.

Echenique's 12 points were the most ever in an Olympic game by a Creighton product, four more than the eight points scored by Willard Schmidt in the 1936 Summer Olympics in an Aug. 9 game vs. Estonia in Berlin, Germany. Echenique joined Schmidt as the second Olympian in Creighton's basketball history and was the fifth Olympian in school history, joining Carl Vincequerra (1936 boxing), Scott Servais (1988 baseball) and Chad McConnell (1992 baseball). Schmidt and Servais are the only two Bluejays to earn a medal, with each man taking home a gold medal.

Echenique and Venezuela return to the court on Monday night at 5 pm Central with a game against gold medal favorite United States. The US squad defeated Venezeula, 80-45, in an exhibition game in Chicago on July 29th.

Previous features on Gregory Echenique
July 30: Basketball Alum Gregory Echenique Named to Venezuelan National Team; Will Compete in Olympics
July 30: Creighton Coach Greg McDermott Discusses Olympian Gregory Echenique
Aug. 5: Exclusive Interview With Olympian Gregory Echenique

Echenique Scores 12 In Olympic Debut For Venezuela

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