SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Jermaine O'Neal had 22 points and 10 rebounds Tuesday in a 94-86 Team USA victory over Argentina at the FIBA Tournament of the Americas.
O'Neal and Elton Brand are the two players on Team USA who were members of last year's squad, which finished sixth at the World Championships in Indianapolis, losing three times.
The road to ruin was paved by Argentina, which led from start to finish in an 87-80 win that was the first by an opposing country against NBA players in international competition.
This time, with Team USA clinging to an 87-83 lead, O'Neal came off his man and soared to block a driving layup by Argentina's Fabricio Oberto that could have made it a two-point game with just under two minutes left.
The block triggered a fast break that Vince Carter hammered home for an 89-83 advantage.
