ACOG - News - IBM

(1 August 1996; Day 13)

Yugoslavia Going For Gold After 16th Straight Victory

Yugoslavia won its seventh game in the 1996 Olympic Games and its 17th consecutive international game in a 66-58 semifinal victory over Lithuania. The victory sends Yugoslavia into the gold medal game against the winner of the game between the United States and Australia.

In the final eight minutes, the lead changed hands five times and was tied at 58-58 on a free throw by Lithuania's Rimas KURTINAITIS with just 1:58 remaining in regulation. Yugoslavia's Predrag DANILOVIC scored six points in an 8-0 run over the final 1:19 to help Yugoslavia pull away at the end.

"We are going on to the finals to play as hard as we can," said Vlade DIVAC (YUG) of the possibility of meeting the heavily favored United States for the gold medal. "If we lose, we will have to be satisfied that we got to the final, but right now our guys are not thinking about losing."

In the first half, Lithuania jumped out to a 12-5 lead just 4:05 into the game as KURTINAITIS netted eight points in the early run. The Lithuanian squad continued the seven-point advantage at 18-11 before Yugoslavia tallied eight straight points to take its first lead of the game at 11:01 on a trey by Aleksandar DJORDJEVIC. The lead continued to change hands as the teams traded baskets until the score was tied again, 30-30, with 2:44 remaining in the half on a basket by Zeljko REBRACA. Yugoslavia then closed the half by making four free throws in the final 1:30 to take a 35-31 lead at the break. KURTINAITIS single-handedly kept Lithuania in the game in the first half, scoring 16 of his game-high 22 points in the period.

In the second half, DJORDJEVIC (YUG) opened play with a long 3-point field goal to widen the margin to seven points, 38-31. The Yugoslavian squad continued to hold the lead until Arturas KARNISOVAS connected on a trey to knot the score at 49-49 with 8:35 remaining. KARNISOVAS then netted another trifecta with 5:12 on the clock to give Lithuania a three-point lead, 54-51. The lead changed hands three more times before DANILOVIC (YUG) put the game away.

DANILOVIC led a balanced Yugoslavian attack with 19 points, while DJORDJEVIC added 16 points. DIVAC (YUG) tallied 9 points, 8 assists and 3 steals. While KURTINAITIS led Lithuania, the play of center Arvydas SABONIS helped keep the game close. SABONIS was a major factor inside, scoring 14 points, grabbing 13 rebounds and blocking 3 shots.

The victory for Yugoslavia was its third in a row over Lithuania, which includes a win in the 1995 Men's European Championships final.

This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Wayne White.


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Olympic Factoid
The Mother Nature was kind to Olympic athletes and spectators. The average high temperature during the Games was 89 degrees with an average low of 72 degrees. Highest temperature registered (20 July) - 99 degrees. Lowest high temperature registered is 79 degrees (28 July).