Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 30, 1990 TAG: 9007300167
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B/1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
DATELINE: SEATTLE LENGTH: Medium
Yugoslavia defeated the Americans 85-79 Sunday night for the men's basketball gold medal at the Goodwill Games.
Two years ago in the Summer Olympics at Seoul, South Korea, the Soviets beat America and won the gold medal. Earlier this week, the Soviets beat the Americans again in a qualifying-round rematch, but were taken out of gold-medal contention in the semifinals by the Yugoslavs.
Yugoslavia fought off an early injury to a starter and foul trouble throughout the game in beating an American team that hasn't won a title in three straight international competitions.
The United States, which rebounded from the qualifying-round loss to the Soviet Union with impressive wins over Italy and Brazil, struggled from the outside and never was able to take advantage of Yugoslavia's manpower shortage. It was particularly victimized by its previously superb backcourt, with starters Kenny Anderson and Todd Day shooting a combined 4-of-22 from the field. Day was 1-of-12.
The loss follows a gold medal-game defeat to Brazil in the 1987 Pan Am Games and the bronze-medal finish in the Seoul Olympics. The last major international title won by the United States was the 1986 World Championships, a crown it will defend next month in Argentina.
Yugoslav starting forward Zarko Paspalj, who played for the NBA's San Antonio Spurs, sprained his right ankle eight minutes into the game and spent the rest of the night on the bench with his leg elevated and wrapped in ice.
Yugoslavia's problems were compounded by foul trouble for starting center Dino Radja, who picked up his fourth with 18:05 to play, and starting guard Jurij Zdovec, who was charged with his fourth with 15:14 left.
Yugoslavia maintained the lead throughout the second half, however, with the United States getting as close as 59-57 with 10:58 to play.
Then Yugoslav coach Dusan Ivkovic put Radja, who has said he will play for the Boston Celtics next season, and Zdovec back in the game. Yugoslavia went on a 15-8 run, with Zdovec scoring eight of the points and Radja getting five.
Yugoslavia extended the lead to 78-67 with 4:39 left and the closest the United States could get was 81-78 with 1:48 to play. The U.S. had two chances to cut its deficit to one, but Billy Owens missed a shot and Doug Smith lost the ball out of bounds.
Zdovec led Yugoslavia with 21 points, and Toni Kukoc, the only draft choice of the Chicago Bulls this year, had 17. Kukoc played the last 11 minutes with four fouls. Radja had nine points before fouling out with 3:51 to play.
Owens led the United States with 23 points; Alonzo Mourning added 18 and 13 rebounds.
The United States shot poorly from the field, particularly from 3-point range. The Americans made only one of 11 from long range and 27 of 71 (38 percent) overall.
The Americans also were weak from the free-throw line, making 24 of 35.
The Soviet Union, which lost to Yugoslavia in the semifinals, beat Brazil 109-103 for the bronze medal.
Australia took fifth with a 116-92 win over Puerto Rico, and Italy finished seventh after beating Spain 105-96 in overtime.
by CNB