Nocioni and Campazzo lead Argentina past rivals Brazil in double overtime thriller

RIO DE JANEIRO (Rio 2016 Olympic Games) - Argentina needed two overtimes but eventually beat their great rivals Brazil, 111-107, on Saturday to clinch a place in the Quarter-Finals of the Olympic Basketball Tournament.

The tournament hosts charged back from an 11-point deficit early in the second quarter to lead by as many as 10 midway through the third and looked to be closing in on victory with 2:40 remaining when the outstanding Nene powered his way up for a lay-up and an 83-75 advantage.

Facundo Campazzo made four free-throws and a shot from beyond the arc in a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to one.

After Marcelo Huertas took the lead back up to 85-82 with two foul shots, Brail did not foul Argentina to prevent them from attempting a game-tying 3-pointer. Instead, they knotted the game a few seconds from the end when Andres Nocioni's attempt from the left corner bounced high off the rim and fell through the hoop.

Brazil tried to win after a timeout with Nene rolling into the lane and passing to Huertas but the Los Angeles Lakers guard's attempt from the baseline hit the backboard and stayed out.

At the end of the first overtime, with Campazzo's superlative play keeping Argentina in the hunt, Raul Neto missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer.

In the second overtime, Campazzo made back-to-back three-pointers at the start and Patricio Garino scored as well to put Argentina on their way to a famous triumph.

Turning Point: There were a couple. Nocioni, who missed a three-pointer at the end of Argentina's FIBA Basketball World Cup Semi-Final against Spain 10 years ago, this time drilled a shot from the corner to force the first overtime. At the start of the second, Campazzo put his team in front to stay with two of the five three-pointers he made in the game.

Stats Don't Lie: Argentina were 17-of-42 from long range and Brazil 9-of-26.

Hero: Take your pick. Nocioni, who made 8 three-pointers - including the one to force the first overtime - on his way to a national team career-high 37 points and 11 rebounds. Campazzo finished with 33 points and 11 assists. He was 5-of-10 from long range and also led Argentina with 4 steals.

Bottom Line: Somebody had to win and somebody had to lose. It took extraordinary efforts from a couple of Argentina players, Nocioni and Campazzo, to carry the team past a Brazil that for most of the game looked like it would not be denied. Brazil still have an opportunity to advance but must beat Nigeria in their last game and hope other results go their way

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