Photo courtesy USA Basketball

George Mason head men's basketball coach Paul Hewitt came to Fairfax just over two months ago, and before his Patriots team would take the court this coming fall, he had another prominent engagement. Hewitt is serving as the head coach of the USA Basketball U19 team this summer as they traveled to Riga, Latvia for the FIBA World Championship.

Already, Hewitt's team has made its mark, going 5-1 in pool play. After a 115-60 win over Egypt to open play last Thursday, the USA edged Serbia by two, 80-78. Into the weekend, USA downed China by an 82-66 margin, and Hewitt's squad had no trouble with Canada in a 83-54 win on America's Independence Day.

On Tuesday, the USA had revenge on the mind as it took on Lithuania, who dealt the USA two exhibition losses in June. After the game was sent to overtime after a goaltending call with less than two seconds remaining in regulation, the USA rallied from a six-point overtime deficit to capture a 107-105 victory.

The win ensured the United States of the No. 1 seed heading into single-elimination medal play. With that in hand, the US was unable to finish the second round unblemished as Croatia dealt them a 87-85 loss on Wednesday.

Into medal play, the US fell to Russia, 79-74, to fall out of contention for the championship, but there was plenty of basketball left to be played. The US crushed Poland, 84-47, in the semifinal round, and in the game to determine fifth place, the United States edged Australia, 78-77.

Results and more from USA Basketball's games during the tournament in Latvia can be found at the link below.

USA Basketball at the 2011 FIBA Men's U19 World Championship