Lou Roe topped the Americans with 19 points. Michael Finley had 16. China's top scorer was Sun Jun with 20.
Also on Monday, the Russian team completed an undefeated preliminary round by pounding Argentina 89-80. Argentina made a game of it, pulling to within two points at halftime, but Russia took command in the second half and won going away.
The U.S. victory partly atoned for a 77-75 loss to Russia, but it was unconvincing coming against the winless Chinese.
The Americans scored mostly on transition baskets and had a wide edge in rebounding, but even those advantages came only in spurts.They struggled to a 50-42 lead at the half, running well at times but shooting poorly from the field.
The Italians advanced to the semifinals with an 83-69 win Monday over Puerto Rico. The other semifinal Wednesday will pit Puerto Rico against Russia.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.