Rio de Janeiro, Brazil • May 12-25, 1963

The fourth World Championship was all Brazil, as the home team went undefeated to claim its second consecutive World Championship title.

The U.S. team, which was virtually the same team that had gone 6-0 to capture the 1963 Pan American Games gold medal in Sao Paulo, Brazil, just weeks earlier, finished 6-3 overall and in fourth place. Both USA teams were comprised of players from the AAU, armed forces and college ranks.

Led by guards Vincent Ernst and Donald Kojis, and 6'10' Willis Reed, the U.S. rallied from a 10-point first half deficit to record an 88-74 victory over stubborn Mexico. While Ernst ran the U.S. offense, Kojis and Reed finished with 18 and 16 points, respectively.

Argentina proved no match for the Americans as the U.S. strolled to an 81-51 victory and Jerry Shipp led the USA attack with 20 points. Leading 42-34 at half, the U.S. fought for its life in the second half against Italy as the Italians rallied to tie the game late. But behind the offense of Shipp and Ernst, who finished with 26 and 19 points, respectively, the U.S. prevailed 87-77.

Advancing into the final round-robin, the U.S. was stunned in its first outing, falling 75-73 to Yugoslavia. While the U.S. led by two at half, 32-30, the game remained a tight affair the entire second half. Tied 71-71, Yugoslavia scored four consecutive points to take a 75-71 advantage, a basket by Shipp cut the lead to 75-73 but that's was as close as the U.S. would get. Kojis led the U.S. with 21 points, while Shipp contributed 17.

Trailing France 29-19, the U.S. recovered to take a 36-35 lead to the locker room at half, then, behind a full- court press, blew the game open in the second half and cruised to an 81-61 win. Reed and Walter Torrence each finished with 17 points.

In front of 25,000 spectators, USSR reserve Leonid Yvanov scored on a layup with 14 seconds left and the Soviets handed the USA team a heartbreaking 75-74 loss. Kojis finished with a U.S. high 15 points, Jackson and Shipp each accounted for 10 points. Rebounding from the loss to the USSR, the U.S., behind Reed's 17 points, got back on the winning track recording an 88-64 victory over Puerto Rico. Next, Italy was overrun by the American squad 101-73 as five U.S. players scored in double figures led by Shipp's 20 and Reed's 19.

Facing Brazil in the final game of the tournament, the USA led for most of the first half, but Brazil rallied to take control in the second half and went on to record an 85-81 victory in front of 25,000 fans. With the victory, Brazil claimed the World Championship title, while Yugoslavia, by virtue of its 69-67 win over the USSR claimed the silver, and the USSR earned the bronze.