Goodwill Games

09/08/2001

BRISBANE, Australia (September 8, 2001) – Following a do-or-die defensive stand at the end of regulation by guard Baron Davis (Charlotte Hornets) and eight points in overtime from Andre Miller (Cleveland Cavaliers), the USA (4-0) survived a scare and rallied in overtime to defeat upset minded Brazil (2-2) 106-98 in semifinals play in the Goodwill Games Saturday.

The overtime thriller was the USA's fourth straight win at the 2001 Goodwill Games and earned the United States an appearance in the gold medal game Sunday. The U.S. will face 3-1 Argentina Sunday (12 a.m. EDT) for the gold medal in a TNT live televised game. On Sept. 4 in preliminary play, the Americans rolled to a 97-67 victory over Argentina.

"I thought we only played defense in the last 16 seconds of the fourth quarter and in overtime. We were placed in a position where we were fighting for our lives out there at the end of the game," said USA and Minnesota Timberwolves head mentor Flip Saunders. "It will be a great learning experience. You find out that any time you step on the court, you are going to be challenged."

The United States led 79-67 heading into the fourth quarter, but Brazil gradually fought its way back into the game and pulled within one point 88-87 with 1:14 to play following a basket from guard Sandro Varejao. USA forward Kenyon Martin (New Jersey Nets) went strong to the basket for a dunk to lift the Americans ahead 90-87 with 1:01 left.

Brazil wasn't finished yet. Guard Heilo Garcia, who sank six-of-10 three-point shots in the contest, drilled his fifth of the game with 40.7 seconds left to tie the game for the first time 90-90. USA center Jermaine O'Neal (Indiana Pacers) missed a baseline jumper with 16 seconds to play and the ball went out of bounds during the scramble for the rebound and was awarded to Brazil.

Following a Brazil timeout, Brazil guard Dementrius Ferraciu dribbled the ball up court looking for the game winning shot. But U.S. guard Davis was like glue on Ferraciu and did not allow the guard to get a shot off before he dribbled the ball out of bounds with 0.7 seconds left in regulation.

"I knew he wanted to go left, so I just really jumped on his left side and forced him to the baseline and I knew I was quick enough to cut him off," stated Davis about his defensive stand at the end of regulation.

"What we did was we really challenged all of our guys to play head up defense, one-on-one on your guy and to try and not give a lot of help if we don't have to. I thought we got into our guys and did a great job defensively and didn't foul," added Saunders about his team's defensive stand at the end of regulation.

Brazil's continued to control the game's momentum early in the overtime and after another three-pointer from Garcia, led 96-94 with 3:20 to play.

Andre Miller, who in the 1998 Goodwill Games as a collegian at Utah came up big in the USA's gold medal 93-85 overtime win over Australia, did it again.

Andre Miller made one of two free throws to cut the gap to 96-95, then after penetrating found O'Neal inside for a basket that gave the Americans the lead for good 97-96 with 2:52 remaining. Andre Miller on the following possession snuck behind Brazil's defense for a wide open basket with 2:01 left that made the score 99-96.

"I don't know what happened, I thought we had the rebound and I just took off and they weren't paying attention. They were jamming the outlet guy and Jermaine made the lead pass and I just went up with the layup," remarked Miller.

Brazil's Ferraciu scored off a drive to pull Brazil back within a single point, then with 1:26 to go in OT Martin countered with a 12-foot jumper to hand the U.S. a 101-98 lead. The USA defense stepped up big again and forced a shot clock violation . On the United States following possession, Davis fed O'Neal inside for a thunderous dunk and although O'Neal missed the accompanying foul shot, the USA was up 103-98 with 51.5 to go. The USA held Brazil scoreless from there and Andre Miller finished the scoring making one of two free throws and a layup to seal the 106-98 win.

O'Neal, making 10-of-14 shots, headed the American offense scoring 22 points while adding eight rebounds and four blocked shots. Martin finished with 18 points on 9-of-12 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds, while Miler recorded 16 points and six assists, Davis and Szczerbiak each accounted for 11 points and Mike Miller (Orlando Magic) tossed in 10 more. Brazil's Ferraciu and Garcia accounted for 24 points a pierce, and Ferraciu also was credited with 14 assists.

Behind three-pointers from Mike Miller, Baron Davis and Wally Szczerbiak, the USA jumped out to 19-7 lead in the game's first four and a half minutes. Making 11-of-15 shots in the first quarter for a healthy 73.3 shooting percentage, after one quarter the U.S. held a comfortable 32-19 advantage.

Brazil steadily chipped away at the American lead and with 3:10 to play in the second quarter had rallied to within five, 44-39. The USA got three-pointers from Davis and Miller to finish the quarter strong and take a 54-43 lead to the locker room at halftime.

The Americans opened up a 16 point lead with 6:37 to play in the third, but Brazil rallied back once more to close to nine, and the end of three quarters the USA led 79-67.

"I think it's nice that our guys were challenged," said Saunders. "For all of us to come down here and win every game by 40, you don't find out what kind of character you have on your team. So it's kind of nice to be challenged a little bit, but hopefully one is enough.

"Argentina will play us even harder now after watching this and thinking our shield is down a little bit after our game against Brazil," added Saunders on the USA's gold medal opponent. "They play exceptionally hard and extremely physical. We'll have to definitely play better than we played today and better than we have the last couple of games."

In Saturday's other medal round semifinal game, Argentina closed the game strong to edge host Australia 69-63 and earn a spot in the gold medal game.

In addition to Sunday's gold medal game, Australia (2-2) will face Brazil for the bronze; Canada (1-3) will take on New Zealand (3-1) in a game to determine fifth place; while Mexico (1-3) will play Cuba (0-4) for seventh place.

The USA is the defending Goodwill champions having won the gold in New York at the ‘98 Games with a thrilling 93-85 overtime win over Australia. The USA has medaled in all four prior Goodwill Games competitions and in the process currently boasts of an overall win-loss record of 23-6 (79.3 winning percentage). The USA captured gold in 1998 and 1986, silver in 1990 and bronze in 1994. All four of those USA Goodwill Games teams were comprised of college players.