St. Petersburg, Russia - July 23-28, 1994

Facing five veteran teams that following the Goodwill Games would go on to compete in the 1994 FIBA World Championship, a young USA Men's Goodwill Games Team, a collection of the top collegiate players, rebounded from a semifinal loss to capture the bronze medal with an 80-71 victory over Russia, the eventual silver medalist at the World Championship.

1994 USA Men's Goodwill Games Team 1994 USA RESULTS (3-2) USA 83 Argentina 71 Russia 77 USA 75 USA 99 China 80 Italy 81 USA 72 USA 80 Russia 71 1994 GOODWILL GAMES FINAL STANDINGS 1. Puerto Rico (4-1) 5. Argentina (3-2) 2. Italy (4-1) 6. Brazil (2-3) 3. USA (3-2) 7. Croatia (1-4) 4. Russia (3-2) 8. China (0-5)

Held in St, Petersburg, Russia, at the Lenin Sport & Concert Complex, the USA compiled a 3-2 record en route to collecting a bronze medal.

Opening the Games with an 83-71 victory over Argentina, Michael Finley sank seven of ten field goals and led the U.S. attack with 16 points, while Lou Roe, Damon Stoudamire and Shawn Respert added 13, 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Meeting host Russia two days later, the USA dropped a two-point heartbreaker despite 17 points from Respert and 14 more from Finley. Limiting Russia to 32.0 percent shooting in the first half, the Americans trailed at half 34-30 after also having trouble shooting and hitting just 33.3 percent of their shots. Both teams' shooting warmed in the second half and the game continued to be a tight affair. Russia inched out to a 75-69 lead with 49 seconds to play, and the Americans closed to 75-72 with 13 seconds remaining, but Russia held on to record a 77-75 win.

In need of a victory over China if a berth in the medal semifinals was to be realized, the U.S. made 52.5 percent of its shots and held a 35 to 21 advantage on the boards in its 99-80 romp over China. Roe paced the USA offense with 19 points, while Finley tossed in 16, and Respert and Cherokee Parks were each credited with 13 points.

Following a day's rest, the U.S. bid to advance to the gold medal game came up short as an undefeated, patient and poised Italian team handed the U.S. squad an 81-72 loss. The USA slipped out to an early 23-14 lead, but Italy steadily worked its way back into the game and at halftime trailed by only one point, 40-39. In the second stanza, Italy methodically carved out an 11-point advantage and the U.S. attempted several late-game rallies, but eventually succumbed 81-72. Stoudamire led the U.S. with 17 points and Alan Henderson added 12.

Unwilling to leave without a medal, the U.S. entered its rematch with Russia with renewed vigor and emerged with an 80-71 victory and the bronze medal. The U.S. led 41-34 at halftime and increased its lead to 51-41 with 14:45 to play on a dunk off a rebound by Finley. In the process of dunking the ball, Finley left the rim dangling from the backboard, causing the game to be delayed 45 minutes while a new rim was installed.

When the game resumed, the Russians went on a 19-8 tear to take a one-point 60-59 lead with 6:17 to play. But three-point specialist Respert provided an offensive spark by sinking a trio of three pointers over the next 3:26, effectively ending Russia's medal hopes as the USA claimed the bronze 80-71. Finley led the U.S. with 24 points, while Henderson added 17 points and a game high 12 rebounds.

In the championship game, Puerto Rico defeated Italy 94-80 to claim the gold.

1994 USA Men's Goodwill Games Cumulative Statistics