Great Britain recorded their first Olympic victory in basketball since 1948 with a 90-58 thrashing of China.
Men's team claim first Olympic basketball victory since 1948
Great Britain thrashed China 90-58 to record their first Olympic victory in basketball since 1948 in fine style.
In what coach Chris Finch said would be his last game in charge, he got one over his old BBL rival and current China coach Bob Donewald with a comfortable win.
Kieron Achara had an outstanding game for Britain with 16 points, making the most of extended playing time as Luol Deng slipped into early foul trouble and Pops Mensah-Bonsu sat out with an injury.
Britain, who suffered a dismal collapse against Australia on Saturday night, fell into an early 7-0 hole when Wang Shipeng hit a three for China.
But they dominated from there on. Nate Reinking, who along with Robert Archibald was playing his last game for Britain, tied it up 10-10 before the first of Achara's three-pointers edged Britain ahead at 13-12.
Achara moved into double figures late in the first quarter with a pair of free throws before Dan Clark's jumper gave them a 27-15 edge.
Three-pointers
Reinking's three made it 32-15 before China reeled off seven straight points, but Britain soon re-established their lead with Achara's three making it 39-24, a gap which remained static at six points with the half-time score 46-31.
China scored quick points through Zhou Peng and Yi Jianlian to start the second half, but Drew Sullivan's three midway through the third kept Britain's lead comfortable at 57-42.
Deng, who had been on the sidelines for extended periods due to foul trouble, got his first points of the game with 5:13 left in the third period.
Reinking's three pushed the lead to 20, points late in the third and not long after Kyle Johnson swished a shot from the corner to make it 70-45.
Both Reinking and Sullivan - the two remaining players who have been with the modern British Basketball programme from the very start - had strong showings with Reinking scoring 12 and Sullivan 11.
Joel Freeland reached 10 despite also battling foul trouble, and Eric Boateng also had 10. Archibald had eight in his final game. Wang led China with 11 and Yi had 10.
The atmosphere was oddly subdued in the fourth quarter, with the game a blowout. Britain's only other Olympic win in history came the last time London hosted the Games as they beat Ireland 46-21.
