ARG/AUS – Argentina down Boomers in last game on Tuesday

BEIJING (Olympics) – Australia nearly upset Argentina at the FIBA Diamond Ball but they suffered a heavy defeat to the defending Olympic champions on Tuesday and saw their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals fade a little more.

The South Americans, without some of the key men from their gold-medal winning side of four years, still have a star-studded and very experienced side and they ran roughshod over the Boomers, winning 85-68.

Argentina opened up a 20-3 lead in the first quarter and stayed on top for the rest of the contest.

“This was a very important win for us,” said Luis Scola to FIBA.com.

“It was hard game, but we were solid and to finish 17 points up is a good result.”

Australia suffered a heavy defeat to Croatia in their first game and are now 0-2 while Argentina bounced back from their narrow setback to Lithuania.

“We lost one game, Lithuania played really well against us and we still could have won that game, but this is a really tough tournament, very competitive,” Scola said.

“You can lose a game. The important thing was that we played well tonight.

“It’s important to win, while the margin of the win and how you play is also important.

“We played a complete game.”

Argentina opened up a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter but took their foot off the pedal, thus allowing the Aussies to go on a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to 74-64.

Argentina got late three-pointers from Manu Ginobili, Pablo Prigioni and Leo Gutierrez, however, to finish with a 17-point triumph.

Ginobili finished with 21 points and Scola 17 for Argentina, while Australia got a game-high 22 from point guard Pat Mills.

FIBA