Summer Olympics 2000 Lithuania beats Aussies for bronze

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Saturday, September 30
Lithuania beats Aussies for bronze
Associated Press

SYDNEY, Australia -- Lithuania's third straight bronze medal meant no medal again for five-time Olympian Andrew Gaze.

Just two days after giving the United States the biggest scare since NBA players began playing in the Olympics, Lithuania beat Australia 89-71 in the third-place game Sunday (Saturday night ET).

Lithuania has won the bronze medal in each of its three Olympic appearances, starting with the 1992 Games.

"This young team didn't leave the level we played at the previous games," Lithuania coach Jonas Kazluskas said. "We kept the same level high level. It's no secret we're happy with another bronze medal. We are pleased with what we did."

Gaze was playing in his fifth and final Olympics in front of a home crowd that cheered every time his name was said let alone when he scored. He will have to settle for the record for most games played (40) and second place on the career scoring list to Brazil's Oscar Schmidt.

This was the third fourth-place finish in Gaze's career, which started with the Los Angeles Games in 1984. Australia has never won a men's Olympic basketball medal.

"I hope there's no question about our intensity and desire that were certainly there," Gaze said. "Right now we're very, very disappointed, but we advanced to a pretty elite group in the final four. I hope this is a foundation for our next group, that they can take us to the next level. We were close, very close."

Lithuania (5-3) made sure there was no doubt from the start that it would continue its bronze age of basketball.

The lead was 20-8 in the opening five minutes and, just like in its 76-52 semifinal loss to France, Australia never got back in the game.

Lithuania shot 66.7 percent (22-for-33) in taking a 51-35 halftime lead. An 8-0 run at the start of the second half that was capped by two 3-pointers by Sarunas Jasikevicius made it 59-35.

Australia (4-4) didn't make its first field goal of the half for 6:37, a foul line jumper by Mark Bradtke that made it 60-40.

"They got out on us early and at no stage were we able to get back in it," Gaze said.

Jasikevicius was the player with the chance at making history as his 3-pointer at the buzzer against the U.S. team fell short in Lithuania's 85-83 semifinal loss. He had 27 points against the United States and came back with 22 against Australia, as Lithuania showed no letdown after a defeat that caught the world's attention.

Saulius Stombergas led Lithuania with 28 points.

"This game was no different for our team than any of the others," Kazluskas said. "Maybe Australia had the tougher game today."

Gaze, who led Seton Hall to the 1989 Final Four, finished with 22 points against Lithuania. He was the tournament's leading scorer with an average of 19.8, and his Olympic total stands at 789, second only to Schmidt's 1,093 in five Olympics.

Like Schmidt, Gaze, 35, ended his career without a medal.

"It's certainly not empty. Obviously you want to win a medal," said Gaze, who carried Australia's flag in the opening ceremony.

"The Olympics are all about the opportunities I have had. You want the victories and you want the ultimate but there's an awful lot you get along the way. Whether it's the chance to share with players from other countries or to be part of the great teams like I have.

"The ability and opportunity I have had to compete have been a reward in themselves. Any time you are given the privilege and the honor to represent your country, I think that's something rewarding in itself. I would certainly not say it was empty in any way. Conversely to that, it has been extremely full and I've been very, very happy to be a part of it."

Australia played without 7-foot-2 center Luc Longley, who was diagnosed with a slight ligament tear in his right knee. Longley, who was injured late in the loss to France, is expected to be out 8-to-10 weeks. He was traded from the Phoenix Suns to the New York Knicks during the Olympics in a four-team, 12-player deal that sent Patrick Ewing from the Knicks to the Seattle SuperSonics.

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