Friday's Olympic Highlights

BEIJING, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Friday's Olympic highlights:

-- The American men's basketball team moved to within one victory of making amends for the U.S. struggles in Athens. A quick start gave the United States a victory over defending champion Argentina and a date with Spain in the gold medal game.

-- With two days remaining in the Olympics, the United States owned a lead of 13 over China in the overall medal race. The Americans won seven medals Friday to six for the Chinese. There are more medals to come for China in diving and table tennis but there are probably not enough opportunities remaining for the Chinese to catch up.

-- American Bryan Clay won the decathlon gold medal after finishing second four years ago. He built an such an enormous lead prior to the last of the 10 events, the 1,500-meter run, all he had to do to ensure victory was to remain conscious.

-- There are 14 team sports contested in the Olympics and the United States was represented in 11 of them. Of those 11, the American team reached the gold medal game in eight. The women have a gold in soccer and will try for more in basketball and volleyball on Saturday. The men will compete for gold on Sunday in basketball, volleyball and water polo.

-- It was an American sweep in beach volleyball thanks to a victory by Philip Dalhausser and Todd Rogers. They followed the win by Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor by defeating a team from Brazil in straight sets.

-- The only American left in boxing lost in the semifinals. With just a bronze medal for their efforts, it is the worst showing ever for a U.S. team in the Olympics.