The World Championship gold medal continued to elude the United States as the '82 USA men came up two points shy of capturing the USA's first World Championship gold medal since 1954.

1982 USA Men's World Championship Team 1982 USA RESULTS (7-2) USA   96 China 73 USA 100 Panama 79 Spain 109 USA 99 FINAL ROUND USA   88 Yugoslavia 81 USA 100 Colombia 83 USA   71 Canada 69 USA   99 USSR 93 USA 110 Australia 86 USSR   95 USA 94 1982 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL STANDINGS 1. Soviet Union (8-1) 8. Brazil (4-3) 2. USA (7-2) 9. Panama (3-4) 3. Yugoslavia (7-2) 10. Czechoslovakia (4-3) 4. Spain (6-3) 11. Uruguay (2-5) 5. Australia (4-4) 12. China (2-5) 6. Canada (3-5) 13. Ivory Coast (0-7) 7. Colombia (0-6)

The U.S., behind 13 and 27 point performances by 6'4" Michell Wiggins opened the competition with easy wins over China and Panama. However, the United States slipped in their final pool game and dropped a 109-99 decision to Spain despite 22 points from Wiggins and 18 more from Glenn Rivers.

With its back against the wall, the U.S. could not afford another setback. Facing an experienced and talented Yugoslavian team, the U.S. led by 10 at half but trailed 76-74 with seven minutes remaining. The U.S. closed strongly, outscoring Yugoslavia 14-5 to earn the 88-81 win as Wiggins and Rivers each scored 18 points. The U.S. easily defeated Colombia, 100-83, and against Canada, the U.S. led the entire second half and managed to hold off a late Canadian comeback and record a narrow 71-69 win as Antoine Carr scored 16 points.

Needing a win over the undefeated USSR team if the USA medal hopes were to stay alive, the game was tied 61-61 with 15 minutes to play. The U.S. outscored the Soviets 18-8 over the next five minutes to take command 79-69, then cruised in for the win 99-93. Rivers and Wiggins again paced the U.S. offense with 21 points each, and Jim Thomas added 20.

Behind 18 points from Rivers the U.S. knocked off Australia 110-86 in the semifinals andearned the right to meet the Soviet Union for the gold medal.

Falling behind in the game's early going, the U.S., behind the hot outside shooting of Rivers and Jon Sundvold rallied to take a two-point lead at the half, 49-47. Foul trouble plagued the USA team in the second half and with 4:30 to go the Americans had fallen behind 86-79. Trailing 94-87 with 88 seconds left, the swarming USA defense forced several Soviet turnovers and with 25 seconds remaining the U.S. pulled to within a point, 95-94. With nine seconds to play, the USA defense pressured the Soviets into a jump ball. The U.S. controlled the jump, but missed a short jumper as time expired sealing the Soviet's 95-94 victory. Rivers led the U.S. offense with 24 points in the gold medal game and was later named the Most Valuable Player of the 1982 World Championship.

NOTE: Point totals for individual players and teams are accurate, however, box scores are missing for the USA's games against China, Panama and Colombia. With the exception of Glenn Rivers' assist total and Michael Wiggins' rebound total, the above individual cumulative statistical totals for everything but points and scoring average are six game totals and do not include statistics from the China, Panama and Colombia games.