China downs Senegal 100-83 to earn first win
Yao Ming scored 26 points, right at his tournament-best average, and China beat winless Senegal 100-83 on Wednesday for its first victory at the basketball world championship.Former NBA player Wang Zhizhi added 19 points and Wang Shipeng had 17, including three big 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, for China (1-3). The Chinese, who close Group D play against Slovenia, kept alive their hopes of reaching the round of 16 but still needed help.
Houston Rockets center Yao, who came in averaging 26.7 points, had 10 in the first 5:03. But he managed only two more the rest of the first half, and Senegal led 49-45 at the break.
Senegal pushed the lead to 55-47 early in the third quarter before Yao scored eight straight points to tie the game. His two free throws with 4 seconds left gave China a 71-68 advantage heading to the fourth.
The game was tied at 73 before Wang Shipeng hit a 3-pointer and Wang Zhizhi followed with a bucket. Senegal was still within four midway through the period, but Wang Shipeng nailed consecutive 3-pointers as China pushed its lead to 90-80 with under 3 minutes to go and cruised from there.
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