China downs Senegal 100-83
(AP)
Updated: 2006-08-23 15:10 Yao Ming scored 26 points, right at his
tournament-best average, and China beat winless Senegal 100-83 on Wednesday for
its first victory at the basketball world championship.
China's Yao Ming
celebrates their win against Senegal during the first round of the world
basketball championships in Sapporo, Japan August 23, 2006.
[Reuters] |
Former NBA player Wang Zhizhi added 19 points and Wang Shipeng had 17,
including three big 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, for China (1-3). The
Chinese, who close Group D play against Slovenia, kept alive their hopes of
reaching the round of 16 but still needed help.
Jules Aw scored 19 points for Senegal (0-4), which is all but certainly
headed for a winless stay in Japan. Senegal closes its tournament against the
United States on Thursday night.
Houston Rockets center Yao, who came in averaging 26.7 points, had 10 in the
first 5:03. But he managed only two more the rest of the first half, and Senegal
led 49-45 at the break.
Senegal pushed the lead to 55-47 early in the third quarter before Yao scored
eight straight points to tie the game. His two free throws with 4 seconds left
gave China a 71-68 advantage heading to the fourth.
The game was tied at 73 before Wang Shipeng hit a 3-pointer and Wang Zhizhi
followed with a bucket. Senegal was still within four midway through the period,
but Wang Shipeng nailed consecutive 3-pointers as China pushed its lead to 90-80
with under 3 minutes to go and cruised from there.
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