WUHAN, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Argentina beat Nigeria 94-81 in its second group game for its second win at the FIBA basketball World Cup here on Monday.
Luis Scola led the game with 23 points, Facundo Campazzo added 14, while Josh Okogie made 18 points and five assists for Nigeria.
Nigeria who lost to Russia 82-77 in its World Cup opener last Saturday, needed to defeat the South Americans to keep alive its hopes of entering the last 16.
Nicolas Brussino helped Argentina for an 8-2 start into the game. The Nigerians couldn't find their rhythm in the first quarter where the 2004 Olympic champions led 28-17.
Josh Okogie of Minnesota Timberwolves stepped forward to help Nigeria to trim the deficit to four points midway in the second period. Jordan Nwora made his layup and Nigeria overtook the lead 33-32 with 5:03 to go in the quarter.
After both sides tied at 43-all into the second half, Scola made a 3-point play and Facundo Campazzo of Real Madrid kept firing 3-pointers for Argentina who carried an 11-point cushion into the last quarter.
With an 8-3 scoring run, Argentina put the game beyond the reach of its rival.
"Everybody knows the game will be a really tough game. Nigeria is a great team, it is so strong. I am sure the best things Argentina do today is stopping Nigeria's fast breaks," said Argentina head coach Sergio Hernandez.
"I am very very happy and in 40 hours we will have a new game," Hernandez added.
Argentina will play Russia on Wednesday for its last Group B match, with a potential clash against host China in the round of 16 stage, where teams advancing from the same group will not play each other again.
"We are really thinking about Russia, not China at this time. Any victory you have in the first round (is important) when you do the next," Hernandez said.
"But it will be really exciting to play against China," he added. Enditem
