ELEVENTH PAN AMERICAN GAMES -- 1991

Havana, Cuba
August 3 - 17, 1991

Seeking to recapture the Pan American Games gold medal which the USA had lost to Brazil in 1987, the Americans again saw their golden dreams dashed as Puerto Rico defeated the U.S. in the semifinals and went on to secure the gold. For the U.S., it was another good showing that failed to realize the gold. The USA finished with a 6-1 record and the bronze medal.

�Opening against host Cuba and playing in front of a capacity home crowd, Thomas Hill of the U.S. initiated the competition by shattering a backboard with a pre-game dunk. After a new backboard was in place, the U.S. started slowly and at half trailed 50-47. Dominating the first 15 minutes of the second half and taking control 86-72, the U.S. squad held on in the final five minutes and earned a 92-88 victory as James Jackson scored 22 points on 10-13 shooting from the field and Duke's Christian Laettner added 19 points.

Two days later, the U.S. again suffered through a sluggish first half, posting just a six point lead over Venezuela, 43-37. But another strong second half lifted the U.S. to a convincing 91-66 win as Jackson and Laettner led the U.S. scoring attack again with 18 and 15 points, respectively. Argentina took the Americans to the limit before the U.S. claimed an 87-81 win. With four minutes to play, the U.S. held a 76-75 lead, but four points from Jackson and four from Clarence Weatherspoon in the closing minutes helped lead the U.S. to the win. Jackson led the U.S. scoring with 17 points, Laettner added 15 and Weatherspoon tossed in 14 points. After a three-day break, the U.S. returned to the court facing the Bahamas. Jumping out to an 18-0 lead, the U.S. continued its relentless running attack and went on to claim a 116-58 win as six U.S. players scored in double figures. Terry Dehere tallied a game high 21 points, while Jackson and Walt Williams added 19 and 17 each.

Completing pool play with an unblemished 4-0 record, the U.S. disposed of Uruguay in the quarterfinals, 114-68. Jumping out to a 9-0 lead, the USA never looked back as all 12 U.S. players scored in the win, led by UCLA's Tracy Murray's 16 points.

Facing an experienced team from Puerto Rico in the semifinals, the USA's golden dreams received a blow when it was learned less than 24 hours before the semifinal contest that Jackson, the USA's leading scorer, would miss the remainder of the competition because of a stress fracture in his left foot.

Holding a 37-29 advantage over Puerto Rico at halftime, with 4:47 to play the Americans led 64-63. But Puerto Rico reeled off eight straight points to take control 71-64 with 1:34 to play, and although the U.S. cut that deficit to 71-68 with 44 seconds left, Puerto Rico made its free throws down the stretch to take the 73-68 win. Williams led the U.S. with 16 points, Laettner added 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Facing host Cuba in the bronze medal game, the U.S. controlled the first half and led at the mid-way point 56-44. With 13:46 to go, Cuba had rallied to within two, 63-61, but the U.S. regrouped and went on to claim the 93-74 victory and Pan Am bronze. Six U.S. players scored in double digits, with Murray and Williams each accounting for 15 points.

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