Australia advances to gold medal game

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Posted: Thursday July 23, 1998 10:52 PM

Australian Shane Heal, (left) who played one season for the NBA Minnesota Timberwolves, led Australia with 21 points AP

NEW YORK (AP) -- Anthony Ronaldson hit two 3-pointers during a 14-0 run at the start of the second half, lifting Australia to an 86-74 victory over Puerto Rico in the Goodwill Games basketball semifinals Thursday night.

The Australians advanced to the gold-medal game against either a team of U.S. college stars or Lithuania. Puerto Rico will play for the bronze medal.

Shane Heal, who played one season for the Minnesota Timberwolves, led Australia with 21 points, and Ronaldson had 20. Andrew Gaze, who led Seton Hall to the NCAA championship game in 1989, scored 15 points and Chris Antsey of the Dallas Mavericks had 14.

Australia led 44-41 at halftime before starting the second half with its 14-0 burst that gave it a 58-41 advantage. Puerto Rico, which trailed the United States by 19 in a preliminary game before rallying to win by eight, closed within seven with 10 minutes left, but got no closer.

Australia shot just 41.5 percent from the field, but outscored Puerto Rico 22-4 at the free-throw line.

Jose Ortiz, formerly of the Utah Jazz, led Puerto Rico with 23 points.

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