Kevon Wiggins delivers clutch plays as Guyana prevail in extra time

Guyana secured a dramatic 75-73 overtime win against Antigua & Barbuda on July 10, 2026, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall 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.

TURNING POINT

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 Antigua & Barbuda’s lead at a critical juncture. That play shifted the momentum, as Guyana outscored Antigua & Barbuda 6-2 in the pivotal stretch, capitalizing on turnovers and staying composed from the line.

With 1:03 remaining in overtime and Guyana leading 75-73, Antigua & Barbuda’s Preston Merrick missed a three-pointer that could have swung the lead back in their favor. The hosts then managed the final possessions to seal the win.

GAME HEROES

Wiggins led the way for Guyana, finishing with 24 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals in 33:27 of action. He shot 8-of-19 from the field, including 5-of-15 from two and a blistering 3-of-4 from deep, while going a perfect 5-of-5 from the line. Wiggins posted an efficiency rating of 21, and despite a -3 plus/minus, he scored all 6 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 8 rebounds in 39:30, adding 1 steal, 1 block, and zero turnovers. Rashid shot 8-of-20 from the field and registered an efficiency of 19.

For Antigua & Barbuda, Xavier Spencer delivered a game-high 44:01 on the floor, tallying 16 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block. Spencer shot 6-of-10 from the field, including a perfect 5-of-5 from two, 1-of-5 from beyond the arc, and 3-of-4 from the line, finishing with an efficiency of 15 and a -7 plus/minus.

RUNS

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 4 points and 1 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 2 points, 1 rebound, and 1 block.

BIGGEST LEADS

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 – Antigua & Barbuda 50) and again at 6:32 (Guyana 62 – Antigua & Barbuda 52). Antigua & Barbuda also built a 10-point cushion in the third quarter at the 5:05 mark (Guyana 32 – Antigua & Barbuda 42). Despite holding that advantage, Antigua & Barbuda could not hold off the hosts in the end.

TIME SPENT LEADING

Antigua & Barbuda 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.

CRUNCH TIME *

The contest featured 6:52 of crunch time, during which Antigua & Barbuda 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 1 rebound and 2 steals, and accounted for all of Guyana’s crunch-time efficiency.

Antigua & Barbuda controlled the glass in the clutch, grabbing 6 rebounds to Guyana’s 3, 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 2-of-2 from the line in crunch time proved crucial in holding on for the win.

** Defined as any stretch in the final five minutes with the margin at five points or fewer.

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 defense, it was the hosts who found the answers when it mattered most.