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 Bruton's buzzer-beater beats Angola 

Bruton's buzzer-beater beats Angola

1/08/2008 1:00:00 AM
A three-pointer on the buzzer from CJ Bruton and a monster game from Andrew Bogut carried the Boomers to an 81-78 victory over Angola to keep Australia on course for the final of the FIBA Diamond Ball tournament in Nanjing, China.

Australia struggled in the second half but Bogut's 32-point, 11-rebound haul and Bruton's last-second heroics kept the Boomers unbeaten after two games.

With the Boomers struggling to execute in the final minute, Bogut produced a huge three-point play to tie the scores before Bruton hit the game-winner from deep in three-point territory as time expired.

The Australians are now on course for a showdown with reigning Olympic champion Argentina in the final of the official pre-Olympic warm-up competition today.

They will need to improve greatly to win the tournament and have an impact in Beijing after having enormous difficulty overcoming Angola.

The Boomers led 42-35 at half-time, but in the third term the Angolans held Australia scoreless for more than two minutes and turned a nine-point deficit into a 53-50 lead.

They increased their advantage to six points after a three-pointer from guard Milton Barros early in the fourth quarter, but Bogut took over down the stretch to ensure the Boomers victory.

Olimpio Cipriano, the tournament's leading scorer after pouring in 24 points in Angola's opening night loss to China, added 23 last night, while big man Eduardo Mingas added 20 for a gallant but undersized Angola.

It was an even contest early on, with the teams trading baskets for most of the first term.

Bogut then asserted himself, scoring eight straight points including a three-pointer to give the Australians a 16-11 lead.

But Cipriano led the way as the Angolans were able to rally and Australia led 17-15 at quarter-time.

The Boomers pulled away in the second term and led by seven at the main break thanks to a three-pointer on the buzzer from Glen Saville.

But Angola was always able to remain in the game and was unlucky not to record its first win of the tournament. AAP

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