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In a dramatic fourth quarter turnaround, Charlie Bell (Leche Rio-Spain/Michigan State ‘01) found his shooting touch late to finish with 20 points and the USA (4-2) rallied in the game's final five minutes to steal a 91-77 victory from Uruguay (0-6) Thursday in FIBA Americas Men's World Championship Qualifying Tournament action.

The win improved the USA's record to 4-2 in second round standings and was critical for the United States' hopes of earning a qualifying berth for the 2006 World Championship and advancing to the tournament's semifinals. With one game remaining in the second round, Argentina stands alone in first with a 5-1 record, Venezuela and the U.S. are tied for second with 4-2 records, while Panama stands 3-3. Brazil, with a game against the Dominican Republic yet to be played today, is 3-2 and the Dominican Republic is 2-3. Out of contention to advance is Puerto Rico, now 2-4. and Uruguay, who is 0-6. The tournament's top four finishing teams (in addition to Argentina who has already qualified by virtue of winning the 2004 Olympics) will automatically qualify for the 2006 FIBA World Championship that is being held in Japan (Aug.19-Sept. 3, 2006).

The USA concludes second round play Friday facing Puerto Rico who lost to Panama 74-55 Thursday. In other second round play Thursday, Argentina (5-1) had no trouble in beating Venezuela (4-2) 78-60. The night finishes with the Dominican Republic (2-3) taking on Brazil (3-2).

"I thought for about a four minute stretch in the fourth quarter that's probably the best defense we've played,"said USA head coach Mo McHone. "Charlie Bell finally got it going. We did make a change, we started playing side pick and roll which we hadn't done. We needed him to get going and he did a very good job. Then Lynn (Greer) came in and executed a side pick and roll for us and I thought that was huge."

The U.S. trailed 63-52 in the final seconds of the third quarter and looked like a team deep in a world of trouble when Uruguay was whistled for an offensive foul to turn the ball over to the U.S. with 13.8 seconds left. Bell's deep three at the buzzer pulled the Americans within eight, 63-55, and breathed life back to the team. "It was big, you definitely want the momentum going into the fourth quarter and with that three we got it," said Bell about his third quarter ending three. "I think it took a lot out of them and we were able to carry it on into the fourth quarter and pull out a victory."

Uruguay's bench was called for a technical between the quarters, and after Bell made one of the two free throws, he drained another 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to make it 63-59 and re-energize the USA.

Still, despite Bell's efforts, Uruguay was not ready to fold, not yet. Uruguay surged ahead 73-63 with 7:42 to play and the U.S. picked up its defensive intensity and continued to claw its way back basket by basket. Putting the clamps to Uruguay's scoring, the USA assembled a monstrous 24-2 offensive rally that would earn the victory.

With Uruguay leading 75-70 with 5:19 to play, the USA, after a basket inside by Lang, got another 3-pointer from Bell to tie the game and, 28 seconds later, Bell connected once again from behind the 3-point line to give the U.S. a 78-75 lead, its first late in the second quarter.

Uruguay continued to unravel and threes that were hitting nothing by net in the first three quarters were now off target. Lynn Greer (Dynamo Moscow-Russia/Temple ‘02) scored off a drive at 3:36 to push the USA lead to five, then the USA defense stepped up really big.

Forcing Uruguay into shot clock violations on back-to-back possessions, the USA's now aggressive defense forced Uruguay to launch a desperation three as the shot clock was about to expire and after securing the rebound the USA upped its lead to 83-75 with 2:17 to go when McGhee scored inside. Uruguay continued to struggle to score and when it finally did with 45 seconds remaining, the USA was fully in charge 87-77.

"Coach told me Batista is a stud on the inside. He's been averaging 21 points and 16 rebounds so I took it amongst myself as a personal job to not let him score and to try not to let him get as many offensive rebounds as he normally has been. I thought I did an okay job of that," said USA center Kris Lang.

Powered by the inside play inside of Aaron McGhee (Pusan KTF-Korea/Oklahoma ‘02) and Kris Lang (Unicaja Malaga-Spain/North Carolina ‘02), who finished the first half with 15 and 10 points respectively, the U.S. opened up 22-13 lead.

Uruguay guard Nicholas Mazzarino, who scored 22 points in the first half alone, canned a jumper that tied the game 31-31. Tyus Edney (Lottomatica Roma-Italy/UCLA ‘95) scored four point during a 6-0 U.S. run as the red, white and blue moved out to a 37-31 lead with 1:36 left in the second quarter. However, Uruguay, which finished the half shooting making 7-of-16 3-pointers, nailed back to back threes to send the teams to the locker room tied 37-37 at halftime.

Uruguay, behind 6-of-9 shooting from behind the 3-point line in the third quarter, opened up leads of as many 11 points four separate times and led 63-55 at the end of the quarter.

Bell led the USA effort with 20 points and made 5-of-9 3-pointers after shooting 0-for-3 in the first half. McGhee finished with 19 points, Lang added in 12 points and 11 boards, while Edney and Ron Slay (Asheville-NBA Development League/Tennessee ‘03) each tossed in 10 points.

"This feels good especially coming off of a loss yesterday. We're trying to get momentum and make it into the medal round and we can't be too happy because we have Puerto Rico tomorrow and we know they are coming to come at us."

Uruguay's Mazzarino finished the game with 32 points on 6-of-12 shooting from 3-point.

"Mazzarino had a wonderful game. We were trying and doing everything we could but he was making huge shots - tough shots! Then we started trapping him and I thought that got him out of his rhythm just a little bit and that was one of the keys. The other key to the game was I thought Kris (Lang) did a great job Batista. He was the guy we were the most scared of and he only got four points," added McHone.

2005 FIBA Americas World Championship Qualifier

McHone is head coach of the USA contingent, assist him are former NBA great Dennis "DJ" Johnson, who was named recently head coach of the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League after spending 2004-05 as head mentor of the NBA Development League Florida Flame squad, and Joey Meyer, who was recently named head coach of the NBA Development League Tulsa 66ers after leading the D-League Asheville Altitude to league championships in 2004 and 2005.

In FIBA Americas Olympic or World Championship qualifying events held since 1989. USA Basketball men's teams are 50-7 and have won gold in five of the six Tournament of the Americas it has sent teams to.