This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2008, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
BEIJING - Australia stayed with the U.S. men's basketball team for the first half of Wednesday's Olympic quarterfinal game, but that was all.
A 14-0 run to begin the second half removed all doubt from the outcome as the Americans posted a 116-85 victory and moved into Friday's semifinals against Argentina or Greece. Spain and Lithuania will meet in the other semifinal contest. The 31-point margin matched the U.S. team's average in this tournament.
Kobe Bryant led the U.S. team with 25 points. Jazz guard Deron Williams had 10 points and three assists in 19 minutes and teammate Carlos Boozer added four points in the final six minutes.
Former University of Utah center Andrew Bogut of Australia had foul trouble in the first half and appeared to reinjure his ankle in the second half, missing the last 16 minutes of the game. He finished with four points in 11 minutes.
