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Yao Ming One-handed Snaps 46-Game Winning Streak of US
Chinese sensation Yao Ming cracked down the United States one-handedly with a powerful block with 0.2 seconds left to give China a 83-82 win on Wednesday in the semi-final of the men's basketball competition at the Tsinghua Stadium.
Yao, a 2-25 meters center, who had 12 points, nine rebounds and five blocks in the hard-fought win, slammed American Lonny Baxter's hoop jumper away to the back court to secure the victory.
The United States, who had 12 Universiade titles under their name, kept a record of 46-game winning streak before Wednesday's game during a period when they won six successive gold medals in the biannual games.
China will face the winners of the other semi-finals between Germany and Yugoslavia in the championship game, vying for China's first gold medal in the men's basketball in the world level competition.
"We're well prepared for the game and determined to win the match," said Chinese head coach Wang Fei. "We tried hard to rely on the inside on offence and gave pressure on American's outside shooters on defence."
"China has some extremely big guys and they did a good job to execute their inside game," said American head coach Jerry Dunn. " I'm disappointed of losing the game. The U.S. always expect to win the title."
American Juan Dixon had a game-high 26 points with Baxter adding 12, and Andre Barrett, 10; Melvin Ely, 10 and eight rebounds.
Shooting guard Zhang Jinsong buried 10 out of 11 free throws to lead China with 18 points, while NBA's Dallas Mavericks player Wang Zhizhi chipped in 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Menk Batere, who is dubbed as the "Walking Great Wall" alongside with Yao and Wang, contributed 11 points and six rebounds, stamping China's domination inside the key.
China started energetically with a 11-0 run when the American missed their first seven shots and Ely's two free-throws.
Haywood Owens made the first basket for the U.S. 5:51 minutes into the game, but could not held the run-away Chinese before Batere's jumper made it 25-10 with 1:08 minutes left in the quarter, the biggest gap in the game.
Americans came back in the second quarter with a 18-6 run to take the first lead in the game at 32-31 with 3:39 minute left, and held onto the lead at 42-40 at the break.
The third quarter witnessed the best part of the roaster-and- coaster game when the two sides exchanged the lead for dozens of times before China had the better of the game at 69-66 to enter the decisive final 10 minutes.
Dixon's last-breath efforts fell short when he drilled in three 3-pointers, added with Roger Mason's one, to close the game at 82- 83.
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