Najera Leads Mexico to Fourth-Place Finish in Spain

July 14, 1999

NORMAN, Okla. - Preseason All-American forward Eduardo Najera led Mexico to a fourth-place finish in the World University Games, which concluded Monday in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. The University of Oklahoma senior-to-be averaged 20.1 points in 28.3 minutes per game and was the tournament's second-leading scorer.

Najera, 6-8 and 235 pounds, helped Mexico to a 5-3 record in the 24-team tournament. He also averaged 6.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 2.0 steals per contest, and shot .537 from the field and .409 from three-point land. His best performance came during Mexico's 90-82 overtime win against Russia on July 10 when he scored 29 points and grabbed 12 boards.

A second-team All-Big 12 selection last year, Najera led Oklahoma to a 22-11 record and the school's first NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance in 10 years. He averaged 15.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.8 steals last season.

Following is a game-by-game recap of Najera's performance at the World University Games:

Date     Opponent   Result        Stats
July 3   Turkey     W, 80-46      25 pts, 5 rbds, 2 asst, 3 st (25 min.)
July 4   Spain      L, 87-81      21 pts, 10 rbds, 0 asst, 2 st (31 min.)
July 5   Ireland    W, 87-70      15 pts, 4 rbds, 0 asst, 1 st (14 min.)
July 7   Bulgaria   W, 87-57       9 pts, 5 rbds, 1 assist, 3 st (22 min.)
July 8   Hong Kong  W, 103-60     27 pts, 5 rbds, 5 asst, 1 st (23 min.)
July 10  Russia     W, 90-82 (ot) 29 pts, 12 rbds, 1 assist, 2 st (43 min.)
July 11  Yugoslavia L, 85-60      16 pts, 5 rbds, 0 asst, 0 st (34 min.)
July 12  Spain      L, 90-78      19 pts, 8 rbds, 1 asst, 4 st (34 min.)

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Najera Leads Mexico to Fourth-Place Finish in Spain

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