TWELVTH PAN AMERICAN GAMES -- 1995

Mar del Plata, Argentina
March 19-25, 1995

The USA's quest to regain the Pan American Games gold medal again fell short as host Argentina twice beat the U.S. contingent and claimed the gold. The USA earned the silver while Brazil captured the bronze.

1995 USA Men's Pan American Games Team 1995 USA RESULTS (4-3) Argentina   68 USA 67 Brazil 101 USA 98 USA 104 Uruguay 96 (OT) USA   97 Puerto Rico 78 USA 104 Mexico 80 USA   89 Brazil 85 Argentina   90 USA 86 1995 PAN AMERICAN GAMES FINAL STANDINGS 1. Argentina (7-0) 2. United States (4-3) 3. Brazil (5-2) 4. Uruguay (2-5) 5. Mexico (1-5)   6. Puerto Rico (1-5)

Because of the March timing of the Pan Am Games, U.S. college players were unable to be considered for this team. Instead, USA Basketball turned to the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), which agreed to allow players from its teams to miss some of the regular season in order to participate.

Opening against host Argentina, with the backing of a raucous sold-out crowd numbering over 8,000 and behind the play of guard Juan Espil, Argentina rallied from as many as 15 points down in the second half to edge the U.S. 68-67. The U.S. either led or was tied for the lead from the 16:30 mark of the first half to the game's final second, however, Argentina's Diego Osella scored the game winning layup with one second remaining to give Argentina the win. Carl Thomas led the U.S. with 14 points and Kelsey Weems added 12. Espil finished with 27 points, 23 in the second half.

One night later the USA watched victory again slip away in the game's final seconds when Brazil's Joao Guia scored on a drive with 15.6 seconds left and the U.S. failed to score on its last possession as Brazil slipped past the Americans 101-98. Sean Gay led the U.S. with 22 points, A.J. Wynder added 19. Looking for its first win, the U.S. led from start to finish in a 97-78 victory over Puerto Rico. Thomas led the U.S. with 22 points, Brian Davis added 18, while Scott Paddock finished with 14 points and 17 rebounds and Chuckie White had 13 points and a game high 18 rebounds.

Squandering a lead late, the U.S. recovered in overtime to capture a 104-96 win over Uruguay as 6'7' White had a huge game for the U.S. recording 23 points and 21 rebounds. Behind 17 points from Dave Jamerson,the U.S. stormed to its third consecutive victory in impressive style, romping to a 104-80 win over Mexico.

Meeting Brazil in the semifinals, Rumeal Robinson scored 22 points as the U.S. avenged its earlier setback with an 89-85 victory to earn a berth into the gold medal game.

Argentina, motivated by another overflowing vocal and partisan crowd estimated at 9,000, held off a late USA rally to capture a 90-86 victory and the 1995 Pan American Games men's basketball gold medal. It was Argentina's first ever Pan Am men's basketball gold medal.

'The crowd was maniacal...You couldn't hear yourself on the court,' stated U.S. head mentor Mike Thibault.

The first half was all offense with the two teams combining for 111 points as Argentina held a 60-51 advantage at halftime. In the first half, Argentina shot a sizzling 71.4 percent (20-28 FGs) while the U.S. managed to shoot 59.4 percent (19-32 FGs).

Trailing by as many as 13 points in the second half, the USA rallied to take a 77-76 lead with 6:49 to play. But Argentina outscored the U.S. nine to four over the next 4:23 to grab an 85-80 lead with 2:26 remaining and the U.S. never got closer than three points again.

Robinson led the U.S. with 18 points, while Martin accounted for 15. Espil was the high scorer for Argentina with 22 points.