Melbourne, Australia - August 1-10, 1997

Despite the crushing disappointment of falling in the quarterfinals and thereby being eliminated from medal contention, the USA Men's 22 And Under World Championship squad rebounded to close out the 22 And Under World Championship with wins over Lithuania and Turkey to finish 6-2 and in fifth place.

1997 USA Under 22 World Championship Team 1997 USA RESULTS (6-2) USA 95 Yugoslavia 75 USA 85 New Zealand 43 USA 107 China 39 Puerto Rico 74 USA 69 USA 90 Lithuania 66 Australia 81 USA 63 USA 71 Lithuania 66 USA 61 Turkey 58 1997 22 AND UNDER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL STANDINGS 1. Australia (6-2) 7. Spain (4-4) 2. Puerto Rico (7-1) 8. Lithuania (2-6) 3. Yugoslavia (5-3) 9. S. Korea (3-4) 4. Argentina (5-3) 10. Egypt (1-6) 5. USA (6-2) 11. New Zealand (2-5) 6. Turkey (5-3) 12. China (0-7)

Host Australia earned the gold with an 88-73 defeat of Puerto Rico in the final game, while Yugoslavia topped Argentina 84-72 for the bronze.

The U.S. opened the competition in convincing fashion, beating eventual bronze medalist Yugoslavia 95-75 as Cory Carr scored 18 points.

The USA next disposed of New Zealand 85-43 as Mike Jones scored a team-high 14 points. The U.S., which led 40-31 at the half, limited New Zealand to only three second half field goals and just 12 points.

Recording its third consecutive win with ease, the Americans manhandled China 107-39. The USA effort was headed by Pat Garrity and Brad Miller who scored 14 points each.

The United States suffered its first loss when Puerto Rico rallied in the second half to collect a 74-69 win. Holding an eight point 43-35 lead at half, the U.S. still appeared in control with 9:30 to play holding a seven point lead, 59-52. But Puerto Rico ripped off 11 straight points to take control of the game 63-59 with 4:39 remaining and the USA was unable to regain the lead. The USA's effort was paced by Brad Miller who led the team with 13 points and added eight rebounds.

Garrity scored 13 of the United States' first 23 points and finished with a game high 20 points as the USA rebounded from the previous day's loss to close out its preliminary play with a 90-66 pounding of Lithuania.

The USA's hopes of repeating as the Men's 22 And Under World champions were ended when host Australia's strong second half doomed the USA squad to an 81-63 loss in the quarterfinals.

Leading the U.S. 38-34 at halftime, Australia took control of the game at the start of the second half. Recording a 13-0 run and holding the USA scoreless for the second half's first 4:27, Australia grabbed control 51-34. Despite a late rally by the U.S., which saw the Americans cut the gap to 54-48, the Aussies went on to earn the 81-63 victory. Garrity led the U.S. with a 19 points and 11 rebounds.

While the loss to Australia eliminated the U.S. from any chance at a medal and made a fifth place finish the best the Americans could hope for, the U.S. squad fought back to record a 71-66 victory over Lithuania. Garrity again paced the USA offense with a game high 16 points . The U.S., following a pair of Garrity baskets that broke a 51-51 deadlock late in the game, held off a determined Turkey squad to earn a 61-58 victory in its final contest. The balanced USA scoring attack was paced by Jones who finished with 15 points, while adding six rebounds, while Garrity had eight points and seven rebounds.

1997 USA Men's 22 and Under World Championship Roster