Canada falls to Puerto Rico at Tuto Marchand

Puerto Rico’s Jose Juan Barea, right, goes up for a shot against Canada’s Cory Joseph. (AP/Ricardo Arduengo)

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO — Canada’s senior men’s national team opened the 2013 Tuto Marchand Continental Cup with a tough 78-71 loss to Puerto Rico Thursday night.

Mississauga, Ont., native Andrew Nicholson led all Canadians with 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting, while Tristan Thompson of Brampton, Ont., finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

J.J. Barea led all scorers with 23 points and added eight assists to pace the Puerto Rican offence.

Team Canada continues the Tuto Marchand Continental Cup on Friday against Argentina, who will be playing its tournament opener.

The fourth edition of the event, played every two years in Puerto Rico, sees teams from the FIBA Americas region compete in a warmup tournament before the FIBA Americas Championship.

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