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USA Fights Off Argentina 94-86 To Remain Undefeated In Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament

It was all it was expected to be and in the end, the USA avenged last year’s loss by making the right plays at crunch time and earned a tight 94-86 victory over Argentina (4-2 overall, 3-2 in second round standings) Tuesday night in second round action at the FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Leading the United States to the win was Jermaine O’Neal (Indiana Pacers), one of two 2003 U.S. team members back from the 2002 USA team that lost 87-80 to Argentina in the FIBA World Championship. O’Neal finished with a game high 22 points, 10 rebounds and recorded a critical blocked shot. Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs) added to the USA’s inside dominance and fought through foul trouble to post 19 points and nine rebounds.

The win improved the USA to 6-0 overall, 5-0 in the second round standings, and it extended the USA’s Olympic qualifying tournament win streak to 22 consecutive games. The USA is now 64-3 when utilizing NBA players.

Mexico (3-3 overall, 2-3 in second round), 98-95 losers to Venezuela (2-4 overall, 1-4 in second round) earlier Tuesday, is next up for the USA men. Game time is 10 p.m. (All times EDT) on Wednesday.

The game was a tight affair from start to finish. All even at 74 with 6:42 remaining in the game, the USA outscored Argentina 20-12 to seal the win.

With the U.S. clinging to a narrow 78-77 lead, O’Neal made the first of two free throws, but missed the second. Duncan came away with a huge offensive rebound and found Mike Bibby (Sacramento Kings) who drove the lane for a layup to push the U.S. out to an 81-77 lead. Allen Iverson (Philadelphia 76ers) gave the U.S. some additional breathing room when he connected for his only 3-pointer of the game to help the U.S. to an 85-79 advantage with 3:42 remaining.

Following a missed 3-pointer by San Antonio Spurs guard Emanuel Ginobili at the other end, O’Neal rebounded a Duncan miss and was fouled. He made both foul shots and the USA lead was increased to 87-79 with 3:11 to go.

Argentina continued to battle and managed to cut the deficit to 87-83 with 2:36 to play, and had an opportunity to cut the lead down further. Fabrizio Oberto, who finished shooting 8-of-9 from the field, drove to the basket but had his shot solidly blocked by O’Neal. The U.S. came away with the rebound and Iverson found Vince Carter (Toronto Raptors) for a dunk with 1:43 left to put the USA ahead 89-83. The USA lead never fell below six again as the U.S. earned the 94-86 victory.

“We knew coming in that it would be a tight game and a physical game,” said O’Neal. “They knew from last year, that they could beat a U.S. team. I think we really buckled down at the end of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth quarter and we really played USA basketball.

“It feels good to win. But, we don't have that much time to really think about it. We did our preparation. We had a good game plan. But, that game is over. Now, we have tomorrow night's game," O’Neal added.

The lead exchanged hands 13 times in the opening quarter and the USA edged ahead and behind a three point play by Iverson and a Duncan hoop, the USA lead reached 19-13. Argentina hit a pair of 3-pointers during an 8-0 run that saw it take control 21-19 with 3:06 left in the quarter.

But the U.S. fought back and behind four points from Bibby, the U.S. outscored Argentina 8-2 over the last 3:06 to secure a 27-23 lead after one.

Argentina’s field goal drought, which would last 6:21 from the end of the first quarter to early into the second quarter, continued and following a Jason Kidd (New Jersey Nets) steal and dunk, the U.S. enjoyed its largest lead in the first half, 34-23 with 6:45 remaining before half.

Argentine center Ruben Wolkowyski hit a pair of free throws, then added a 3-pointer with 29 seconds to play before half and Argentina had climbed back within one, 41-40. O’Neal came up big again. Grabbing an Iverson 3-point miss, he was fouled on the good put back with 4.2 second to go. After making the free throw to complete the three point play, the USA had a 44-40 lead at halftime.

Five USA players scored in double digits, as Iverson finished with 13 points and five assists, Carter tossed in 11 points, while Bibby added 11 points and five assists. Kidd recorded seven assists to lead the USA.

Argentine featured five players scoring in double figures, led by Oberto’s 17 points, Ginobili and Nocioni each scored 16 points.

The game highlighted the two teams’ opposite styles. The USA shot 53.1 percent overall from the field, but managed just 33.3 percent (5-15 3pt FGs) from 3-point. Argentina shot 52.3 percent from 3-point (11-21 3pt FGs), but managed just 47.5 overall. The USA won the rebounding battle 26 to 24, and grabbed 12 offensive rebounds.

“I think we were very fortunate. Argentina played well,” stated USA mentor Larry Brown. “They shot the ball better than most teams that we've played in this tournament. They executed extremely well. They got us in foul trouble and I think took advantage of that. But we kind of hung on and defended pretty well down the stretch and got some real good play on the defensive end late in the game and hung on to win. That's a very, very good basketball team. I think if we have to play them again it'll be a great game.”

Tuesday’s evening contests featured Puerto Rico defeating the Dominican Republic 94-61, while Brazil goes up against Canada at 10 p.m.

Wednesday’s second round action features Canada versus the Dominican Republic at 2:30 p.m., Argentina will look to rebound against Venezuela at 7:30 p.m., and Puerto Rico will go against Brazil in a critical game at 10 p.m.

Ten men's national teams from North, South and Central America are competing in the 2003 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament and the top three finishers will qualify for the 2004 Olympic Games.

Preliminary round play took place Aug. 20-24 and the top four finishing teams from each of the two preliminary round groups advanced to the second ground where they form one group. The second round games are scheduled for Aug. 25-28, each team will play the other four teams they have not previously played. The top four finishers based on overall records will then advance to the Saturday, Aug. 30 semifinals, and the winners of the semifinals games will meet on Sunday, Aug. 31 in the gold medal game, while the losers of Saturday’s semifinals showdowns will square off in the bronze medal game.

USA Basketball has had to qualify for the Olympics through a zone qualifying tournament twice before, 1992 in Portland, Oregon, and 1999 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Americans in 1992 rolled to a 6-0 record, won the gold medal and earned a qualifying berth in the ‘92 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona. In 1999, under the direction of Brown, the American squad won 10 games in 11 days to finish 10-0 and in possession of the gold, while earning one of the two Americas Olympic qualifying berths.