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Gaze leads Aussies past Italy into Olympic semi-final

From Sports Illustrated • SI Images: Photos from the Games • Tim Layden: Jones' quest just beginning • Richard Hoffer: U.S. always faces long odds in boxing competition • Alex Wolff: Dutch have a great time while winning • Michael Farber: Russian volleyball coach the Bob Knight of Volga • E.M. Swift: Racewalkers should be lifted from program • Brian Cazeneuve: 'Fighting' Lopez clan shares the joy of gold • Medal Picks: SI's Predictions More Features • Day at a Glance: Diving into history • Wake-up Call: Tracking the day in sports • Viewers' Guide: Sept. 28 • Quiz: Today's Tester Athletes • Just Checking In: U.S. baseball assistant Ray Tanner • Just Checking In: U.S. soccer player Brian Dunseth Multimedia • Photo Gallery: Women's soccer -- Joy and pain • Photo Gallery: Shots of the Day • Multimedia Central: Photo Galleries, Video and More

SYDNEY, Sept 28 (AFP) - Andrew Gaze scored 27 points and Australia scored nine of the last 11 points to edge Italy 65-62 here Thursday, ensuring the hosts a berth in the Olympic men's basketball semi-finals.

Gaze scored 10 points in the final 4:31, pulling the hosts from the brink of disaster to ensure that Australia, which finished fourth at the 1996 Olympics, will once again have the chance to win its first Olympic medal.

The victory sends Australia into a Friday semi-final against the winner of a later match between Canada and France.

Gaze, the Australian flag bearer at the Olympic opening ceremonies, was 9-for-9 at the free throw line and 4-of-5 from three-point range.

Italy's Giacomo Galanda sank a baseline jump shot with 2:26 to play to give the Italians a 60-56 lead.

But Gaze responded by driving to the basket and sinking a layup while being fouled, then completing a three-point play to pull the Aussies within 60-59 with 2:09 to go.

Galanda scored on a rebound with 1:45 to go to stretch Italy's edge to 62-59 but the Europeans would not score again.

Gaze sank two free throws with 98 seconds to go. Then Aussie guard Shane Heal rebounded a Carlton Myers' miss to set up two Mark Bradtke free throws that put the Aussies up 63-62 with 44 seconds remaining.

Claudio Scarone missed a three-point shot and the loose ball went to Gaze, who finished the scoring with two free throws 13 seconds from the end.

Galanda missed a three-point shot at the final buzzer and the Aussie crowd went wild with joy and noise as their players mobbed in a group hug while Galanda knelt in tears on the court and Andrea Meneghin kicked the ball off the scoreboard.

Gregor Fucka led Italy with 17 points while Myers added 14. Heal had 10 and Luc Longley added 10 for the Aussies.

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