t half.BIG PICTUREColgate: In the Raider | Forum

RIO DE JANEIRO -- The nail-biters ended for the U. Fake Vans Free Shiping .S. Olympic mens basketball team.So did a golden era of international basketball.Emphatically stopping a stretch of three straight close games, the Americans advanced to the semifinals by sprinting past Manu Ginobili and Argentina, 105-78 on Wednesday night.In front of a chanting, flag-waving crowd of Argentines who came to throw a raucous farewell party for their Golden Generation, the Americans delivered their most complete performance in Rio.What a remarkable run by Argentina and so we knew we had to match that energy tonight. I thought we did, U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said.Turning a slow start into an early ending with a 27-2 run in the first half, the Americans put away one old rival and set up a meeting with another. They will play Spain on Friday in a rematch of the last two gold-medal games. Australia meets Serbia in the other semifinal.Kevin Durant scored 27 points for the Americans, who had played three straight close games for the first time under Krzyzewski, setting off a round of questions at home and in Rio de Janeiro about what was wrong with them.The answer might be nothing. At least there wasnt against Argentina.We wanted to come out and our whole thing was dominating, forward Carmelo Anthony said.The Americans eliminated Argentina for the third straight Olympics, this time ending not only a tournament run for the Argentines but also a couple careers.Ginobili, 39, and longtime 36-year-old teammate Andres Nocioni retired from international competition after the game, 12 years after winning gold in Athens.We had a chance to grow up together and do some good things, win some games together. It was fun. Its a lot of years, said Luis Scola, who is also 36 but plans to keep playing. We formed part of something unique we did for our country and its going to be there. Sometimes were not going to win, like today, sometimes we won but we fought together for many years.Ginobili scored 14 points in his final game in Argentinas blue and white, tearing up after receiving applause from his fans and warm wishes from his opponents.They congratulated me and Im very proud of their words, Ginobili said. They were very kind, very respectful and when legends of the game showed their respect, it has an extra value.The Americans have won 23 straight in the Olympics since Argentina beat them in the 2004 semifinals, and this was how they usually do it: too much firepower, too much defense, and way too much talent.It took a little while to get going, as Argentina opened a 10-point lead. The Argentines made nine of their first 10 shots inside the arc and led 19-9 when Nocioni drilled a 3-pointer. But the Americans finished the first period with a 16-2 run, getting the final six points from DeMarcus Cousins, to take a 25-21 edge to the second.Three-point plays by Cousins and Jimmy Butler around Durants 3-pointer in an 11-0 start to the second made it 36-21 before Facundo Campazzo stopped the onslaught with a three-point play.Cousins, the normal starting center playing as a reserve, finished with 15 points.Spain beat France 92-67 earlier Wednesday, its fourth straight victory after two losses to open the Olympics. The U.S. edged Spain 118-107 in the 2008 final and 107-100 four years ago in London.The loudest crowd yet for a U.S. game, featuring boxer Floyd Mayweather and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, was treated to an explosive performance by the Americans, with devastating crossovers by Durant and Kyrie Irving that left defenders helpless and brought teammates to their feet on the bench.They opened a 25-point lead in the first half and were in control from that point, the first time since their second game in Rio they had it easy.We fed off wanting to play better than the last three games, Durant said.Ginobili, Scola, Nocioni and Carlos Delfino, the remaining Golden Generation players, checked in together for a last run with about 4 + minutes left. Argentina fans danced, cheered and completely ignored the crooked numbers on the scoreboard while saying one long goodbye.Ginobili was replaced a few minutes later, hugging teammates, coaches and after the game Krzyzewski, before returning to the court after the teams had headed to their locker rooms to be presented a game ball by an Olympic official.Even Argentinas proud veterans didnt consider themselves medal contenders, especially after the Americans blew them out 111-74 in an exhibition game last month in Las Vegas and came to Rio as the overwhelming favorite.But once play began, the U.S. rarely played up to those expectations, with one narrow victory after another as the competition toughened. The Americans held off Australia by 10, then pulled out three-point victories over Serbia and France.They were finally in top form Wednesday.Now they have to stay there two more games.Weve got to build on it, Durant said, but were not satisfied at all.---Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney Fake Vans Outlet . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. Fake Vans Store . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. http://www.fakevans.com/fake-vans-toy-story/ .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- V.J. Beachem had the bounce-back game he needed Monday night for No. 25 Notre Dame.Beachem scored 20 points to help the Fighting Irish snap a two-game slide with a 77-62 win over Colgate.Beachem, who averages 15 points per game, returned to form after a four-point performance in a loss to No. 1 Villanova, followed by an ineffective second half in which he took just one shot during a loss to No. 15 Purdue. Beachem knocked down six 3-pointers against Colgate after going only 2 of 8 in the previous two games.It was big for me to finally knock down some shots and get into a rhythm, he said.Bonzie Colson finished with 13 points and seven rebounds, and Matt Farrell added 13 points and six assists for the Irish (10-2).Will Ryman had 18 points and Nathan Harris scored 17 for Colgate (2-10), which lost its sixth in a row -- all in December.In the losses to Villanova and Purdue, the Irish led by double digits in the first half of each game, but were outscored by an average of 16 points in the second half.Against Colgate, they again took a comfortable lead in the first 20 minutes, but struggled to put away the Raiders. Steve Vasturias 3-pointer with 7:23 to play gave Notre Dame its largest lead at 21 points, but Colgate went on a 12-1 run to cut it to 10 with 4 minutes to go.Consecutive baskets by Colson and a 3 by Beachem with 2:48 left got the Irish back on track, part of a 9-2 run in response.(Beachem) needed to see some shots go in, Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said. Were not going to get another NCAA bid without our seniors playing well.Notre Dame came in leading the nation with just 8.4 turnovers per game, but committed 10 in the first half alone. Colgate contributed to the early sloppiness with 13 turnovers of its own while shooting only 21 percent from the floor as the Irish built a 16-point halftime lead.We turned it over way too many times in the first half, Colgate coach Matt LLangel said. Fake Vans Old Skool. We didnt adjust quick enough.Notre Dame finished with a season-high 14 turnovers.BIG SURPRISEFarrell received an early Christmas gift from the Irish after the game. His older brother, Bo, a First Lieutenant with the Army who had been stationed in Afghanistan for seven months, walked out onto the court to surprise Matt.Brey and his staff had conspired for six weeks to set up the surprise, and even went so far as to prepare a fake video greeting that made it appear Bo was still overseas, just before he walked out to greet his brother.He got me, said Matt, who hadnt seen Bo since May. We dont ask for much for Christmas, so this is the best present Ive ever gotten.Matt joked that he was mad at Brey and the coaching staff for keeping the secret from him for so long.He is very upset with me, Brey said with a smile. What a neat family celebration.TIP-INSLangel was recruited by Brey to play at Delaware, his first head coaching position before coming to Notre Dame. ... Notre Dame freshman guard T.J. Gibbs wore No. 25 for the second half because his normal No. 2 was drenched with Gatorade after he dove over the Irish bench for a loose ball in the first half.BIG PICTUREColgate: In the Raiders two wins, theyve knocked down 25 3-pointers while shooting 49 percent from long range. Against the Irish, Colgate hit just one of its first nine 3s and finished 6 of 19.Notre Dame: The Irish enter their holiday break with a win but plenty to work on after an uninspired effort against Colgate.UP NEXTColgate: The Raiders end nonconference play at Duquesne on Thursday, then begin Patriot League play on Dec. 30 at Lafayette.Notre Dame: The Irish have one more nonconference tuneup at home against Saint Peters on Dec. 28 before beginning ACC play at Pittsburgh on Dec. 31. ' ' '