Canada recorded its second straight win at the 2019 FIBA World Cup, trouncing Jordan on Saturday, 126-71, in its first of two games in the classification round.
Khem Birch posted seven points (3-of-4 shooting), seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block in limited minutes for the Canadians, who shot 59 percent from the field and drilled 24 3-pointers.
Kyle Wiltjer erupted for 29 points, while four others for Canada reached double figures, including Conor Morgan, who scored 14.
Canada’s 55-point win was the second largest margin of victory in this tournament. Serbia beat the Philippines by 59 in the first round.
Although they are guaranteed to finish last in the final rankings among all World Cup participating teams from the Americas, building momentum ahead of next year’s Olympic qualifiers is crucial for the Canadians, who play Germany on Monday in their last game.
The 2020 FIBA Olympic qualifiers will consist of four separate six-team tournaments. The winners of each of those tournaments, which will take place just a few weeks before the start of the Olympics, will advance and join the eight other qualified teams in Tokyo.