September 10, 2002	Tuesday	Rajab 2, 1423

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INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, Sept 9: Dejan Bodiroga scored 27 points, including nine in a row at the end of regulation, to power Yugoslavia to its fifth gold medal in the World Basketball Championships with an 84-77 overtime win over Argentina Sunday.

Yugoslavia became just the second nation to win consecutive World titles and clinched an automatic berth in the 2004 Olympics.

“This was a great game against a great team. I think we had more heart and more experience,” said Yugoslavia coach Svetislav Pesic.

In two of three elimination games, the Yugoslavians stormed back to defeat favoured foes. On Thursday, they knocked the United States out of the tournament by rallying from a 10-point deficit with six minutes left in the quarter-finals.

After knocking off New Zealand in Saturday’s semi-finals, Yugoslavia faced unbeaten Argentina, which had also beaten the United States and was seeking its first world title since the inaugural tournament in 1950.

The Yugoslavs trailed by eight points early in the fourth quarter, then took control in overtime.

It was also a special day of celebration for veteran Vlade Divac who says he has played his last international game.

Argentina (8-1) was scant seconds from the gold medal but now must enter next year’s qualifying tournament, where it again will meet the US.

Argentina led 74-66 with 2:31 remaining but did not make another basket in regulation as Yugoslavia rode Bodiroga, who scored nine points in the final 2:16, including a pair of free throws that tied the score at 75-75 with 17.4 seconds left.

Yugoslavia then forced a turnover with fullcourt pressure, and Luis Scola was called for a foul when he tried to regain the ball from Yugoslavia’s Divac.

The National Basketball Association veteran, with the chance to win the game at the free throw line, missed both with 5.9 seconds remaining.

Argentina’s Hugo Sconochini then drove the length of the floor and appeared to be fouled on his way to the basket, but no whistle blew and the game went to overtime.

Argentina went cold in the extra period, missing all eight field goal attempts while Yugoslavia took control.

A three-pointer by Peja Stojakovic put Yugoslavia ahead to stay, 78-75, and Bodiroga added a pair of free throws to make it 80-75 with 2:16 remaining.

Argentina’s only scoring of the overtime came on a pair of free throws by Fabricio Oberto that cut it to 80-77 with 45.8 seconds left.

Ruben Wolkowyski then blocked Divac’s driving shot to give Argentina one last shot, but Alejandro Montecchio’s three-point attempt missed and Yugoslavia sealed the game at the free-throw line.

Argentina (8-1) was led by Oberto with 28 points and 10 rebounds.

Emanuel Ginobili, who injured his right ankle in the semifinal victory over Germany, was unable to score in just 12 minutes of play for Argentina.

Nowitzki averaged 24.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocked shots for Germany (6-3). He scored 29 points in a 117-94 win over New Zealand in the bronze medal game on Sunday. Nowitzki had 25 points in the first half.

China’s Yao Ming, who averaged 21.0 points and 9.3 rebounds, was also named to the All-Tournament Team at centre.

Earlier, Germany gave an awesome first half offensive display and then coasted to a 117-94 win over New Zealand to claim the bronze medal.

It was the first medal at the world championship for the Germans, who were making their third appearance. Their previous highest finish was 12th in 1994.—AFP/Reuters