Jay-G: 'I don't think there's any team that can beat us'

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Australian Boomers Player of the Game Jaylin Galloway declared "I don't think there's any team here that can beat us" after holding off a fast-finishing Lebanon 93-80 in game two of their Group A 2025 Asia Cup clash in Saudi Arabia early this morning.

The Boomers jumped Lebanon 31-14 in the first quarter and led 58-38 at the half but Lebanon refused to concede, outscoring the Boomers 20-9 fourth quarter to make it a minor squeaky-bum-time finish. Galloway finished with 18 points, five rebounds, three assists and four steals in 26 minutes.

"The reason the game went like that was 'cause of us," Galloway added.

The Boomers (2-0) are closing in on the quarter-finals and Australian head coach Adam Caporn said his team started the right way but Lebanon made adjustments to stay in it.

"I'm really happy with the win," Caporn said.

"I thought we defended really well at the start and then just struggled to control them after that. And credit to them — they just keep coming at you.

"Lebanon keep trying things, and they're difficult to deal with because they're willing to change things up, and the speed of their guards bothered us.

"But I thought on the other side, on the other end, we did a great job moving the ball and played against changing defences — obviously until the end when we just we just missed shots. But really happy with the outcome.

"We obviously didn't play very well in the fourth quarter. Some of it — we missed some open threes and we missed some layups, and that momentum fed into Lebanon's run.

"We wish that fourth quarter was a bit closer, but I thought we played right and competed, made a few errors, but the 20 to 9 score was because of some missed shots as much as anything.

"I was really happy with our rebounding and the tenacity on defense in the fourth quarter to keep them off the three-point line."

Galloway revealed the Boomers scout focused on limiting the impact of American-Lebanese star power forward Dedric Lawson.

"Lawson for sure — we wanted to limit his impact in the game," Galloway said.

"He's a playmaker, he can make shots, so we just wanted to make sure he had limited touches.

"And we got lucky that he had three fouls early in, so he missed most of the first half."

Lawson finished with just three points in 23 minutes.

Key Details

• Result: Australia 93 def. Lebanon 80
• When: 8th August 2025
• Where: King Abdullah Sports City, Saudi Arabia

By the Numbers

• Jaylin Galloway (Australia) starred with 18 points, five rebounds, three assists, and four steals in 26 minutes.
• Youssef Khayat (Lebanon) scored 22 points and had six rebounds, and two assists in 30 minutes.

What Happened

Australia established complete dominance early, racing to a commanding 31-14 lead in the first quarter. The Boomers maintained this momentum through the second quarter, taking a 58-38 advantage into halftime behind efficient shooting and stifling defense.

The Boomers continued their clinical performance in the third quarter, outscoring Lebanon 26-22 to extend their lead to 84-60. Though Lebanon mounted a late rally in the fourth quarter, outscoring Australia 20-9, the outcome was never in doubt.

Reyne Smith matched Galloway's team-high 18 points, including four three-pointers, providing crucial outside scoring for Australia. Xavier Cooks contributed an all-round performance with nine points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals, and three blocks, showcasing his defensive prowess.

The Boomers' ball movement was exceptional, recording 29 assists on 32 made field goals, compared to Lebanon's 18 assists. William "Davo" Hickey orchestrated the offense masterfully with nine assists while adding four points and six rebounds.

Australia dominated the glass with 52 rebounds to Lebanon's 42, including 21 offensive boards that led to numerous second-chance opportunities. Jack White was effective on the boards, collecting 10 rebounds along with six points.

Lebanon struggled from beyond the arc, shooting a dismal 18.2 percent (4-from-22) compared to Australia's 28.2 percent (11-from-39). This outside shooting disparity proved decisive, as Australia converted eight more three-pointers despite facing shooting challenges of their own.

Defensively, Australia recorded seven steals and six blocks, disrupting Lebanon's offensive rhythm throughout the contest. Galloway led the defensive effort with four steals, while Cooks and Will Magnay each registered multiple blocks.

With this victory, Australia strengthens their position atop Group A in FIBA World Cup qualification.

Australia face Qatar in Sunday, August 11 2025 at 6pm AEST.