Indiana University Athletics
U.S. CAPTURES GOLD MEDAL AT GOODWILL GAMES
7/24/1998 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
U.S. CAPTURES GOLD MEDAL AT GOODWILL GAMES
NEW YORK, N.Y. (July 24, 1998) -- Guard Andre Miller (Utah / Los Angeles, Calif.) scored 15 of his team high 18 points after halftime as the 1998 USA Goodwill Games Team (4-1) battled to its first Goodwill Games gold medal since 1986 with its impressive 93-85 overtime win over Australia (3-2) at Madison Square Garden Friday night. There were 16 lead changes and nine ties in the game, which saw Miller score six points in the final 3:47 of regulation and four more points in overtime.
The gold medal is the USA's second in Goodwill Games play, and is its unmatched fourth medal overall in as many Goodwill Games appearances. In 1986, the U.S. won Goodwill Games gold, while it won silver in 1990 and bronze in 1994.
"We were just very fortunate to beat an outstanding ball club. Most of all, this group behind me, we are a team," said USA head coach Clem Haskins of the University of Minnesota. "Here in America I think we want to emphasize individuals too much and I emphasize team play. And that is why we won the gold, because we have a team.
"James Posey (Xavier / Twinsburg, Ohio) just played outstanding basketball the whole time, but tonight he put up tremendous numbers. We need that. And that's why we're winning. And we won the gold because each night someone stepped up and came through for us every night."
Forwards Elton Brand (Duke / Peekskill, N.Y.) and Wally Szczerbiak (Miami, Ohio / Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.) capped brilliant weeks, with 15 points apiece Friday night. Brand, who also led the team against Australia with nine rebounds, shot a sizzling 65.0 percent (39-60 FGs) during the 98 Games. Additionally, Posey came off the bench Friday night to score 13 points and grab six rebounds in the gold medal win.
In overtime, Miller and Szczerbiak scored on consecutive possessions to give the U.S. an 83-79 lead. Gaze then converted a pair of free throws with 3:06 left in overtime to cut the USA's lead to 85-83, but Quincy Lewis (Minnesota / Little Rock, Ark.) answered with a jumper and the Australians didn't come closer than four points after that point.
"When we were first together, there was a lot of I' in the system and guys weren't playing team ball. Once we stepped on the court, guys started to open up a little, pass the ball and play the system. The loss to Puerto Rico was just inexperience. We weren't prepared and ready when they came back. That loss kind of helped us. Now we're sitting here with gold medals around our neck," Miller said.
With 6:23 remaining in regulation, Australia's Andrew Gaze converted a pair of free throws to put Australia ahead, 73-67. However, the USA reeled off a 10-2 run that consumed 2:55 and put the Americans ahead, 77-75, with 3:10 left. After the Aussies assumed a 79-77 lead behind two Gaze free throws with 1:52 remaining, Miller made a clutch steal and went the length of the floor for a layup to tie the game, 79-79. With time running out in regulation, Miller then came up with a key rebound and just missed victory with a 12-footer at the buzzer.
The Australians led for most of the second half, enjoying a 60-54 lead with 13:18 to play before Miller completed a three-point play with 13:10 remaining. Posey then came up with an impressive three-point play in transition on the next possession to tie the game, 60-60, with 12:40 to play in regulation, marking the USA's first tie since being knotted at halftime, 40-40.
The first half was a see-saw affair, as there were three ties and 11 lead changes. Brand buried a 10-foot jumper with four seconds to play in the opening stanza that tied the contest, 40-40, and completed a 7-2 run. The Americans also had to overcome an early 25-17 deficit, answering with a 12-5 run that featured five players scoring, including a key three-point play by center Calvin Booth (Penn State / Reynoldsburg, Ohio) and a dunk by guard Dion Glover (Georgia Tech / Decatur, Ga.).
"It is really unbelievable. I don't know what to say. It's a great feeling for me, but especially for the guys on this team and to do it for the United States. The fact that it was done in my hometown, with a lot of people watching me who I grew up with, is icing on the cake," Szczerbiak said.
The win improves the USA's all-time Goodwill Games record to 19-6 (.760), while Haskins' record as a head or assistant coach with USA Basketball has improved to 24-1 (.960) with four gold medals in as many competitions. As head coach of the 1994 USA Basketball Men's Junior World Championship Qualifying Team, Haskins piloted his squad to an 8-0 record and the gold medal; as head coach of the 1991 U.S. Olympic Festival North Team, Haskins' team earned gold with its 4-0 mark; and as an assistant on the 1996 USA Olympic Team, Haskins saw that team strike gold with an 8-0 mark.
For Australia, 1996 Olympian Shane Heal starred with his 38 point effort, including 22 points in the first half. Heal's output was the best against the U.S. since Brazilian legend Oscar Schmidt also scored 38 points against the U.S. during the 1990 Goodwill Games. dditionally, Gaze finished with 25 points and six rebounds.
In the bronze medal game, Lithuania (3-2) crushed Puerto Rico (2-3) 119-75 to earn the 1998 Goodwill Games bronze medal.
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