Men's Basketball Olympic Updates: Germany Ousted by Slovenia in Quarters
8/2/2021 11:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Olympics
• Tokyo Olympics Site | U-M Olympics Coverage
Tuesday, Aug. 3
Slovenia 94, Germany 70
Moritz Wagner and the German National team saw their Olympic run come to a conclusion with a 94-70 quarterfinal loss to Slovenia Tuesday morning (Aug. 3) at Saitama Super Arena. Wagner had nine points, a rebound, an assist and 11 minutes played in Germany's final game.
After falling behind 25-14 in the first quarter, the Germans were able to cut into the deficit, winning the second quarter, 23-19, and heading into halftime trailing by seven, 44-37. The Slovenians balanced 38 inside scoring points with 15 three-pointers and posted 50 second-half points to close out the victory.
Slovenia was led by Zoran Dragic (EuroLeague), who had five triples and a game-best 27 points, while teammate Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks) nearly had a triple-double with 20 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds. Germany was led by Maodo Lo, who had 11 points with three three-pointers.
After leading the Germans to the Olympics with a win in their Croatia qualifier, Wagner averaged 11.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in his first Olympic experience. He was the first Wolverine to play in the Olympics since Phil Hubbard (United States) in 1976.
• Moritz Wagner (Germany): 9 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 11 minutes
• Stats and Video (NBCOlympics.com)
Sunday, Aug. 1
The quarterfinal-round schedule for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics men's basketball competition was set Sunday (Aug. 1) in Japan after the conclusion of group play. Former Wolverine Moritz Wagner and Germany will play Slovenia at 9 p.m. EDT Monday, Aug. 2 (10 a.m. Tuesday in Japan). Germany (1-2 in Group B) ended up eighth in the preliminary round combined rankings to claim the last quarterfinal slot, while Slovenia (3-0 in Group C) was first.
Moritz Wagner (USATSI)
Saturday, July 31
Australia 89, Germany 76
Italy 80, Nigeria 71
Moritz Wagner scored six points and grabbed three rebounds as the German National Team fell to Australia, 89-76, in its final Group B preliminary game Saturday afternoon (July 31) at Saitama Super Arena. Meanwhile, Ekpe Udoh did not play in Nigeria's final game of the Olympics, an 80-71 loss to Italy that dropped the Nigerians to 0-3.
With the first and second teams in each group advancing to the knockout bracket, the two best third-place teams will also qualify. Currently, the Germans (1-2) and Czech Republic (1-2) hold those two spots with Group C still having its final games to play Sunday (Aug. 1) in Japan. Quarterfinal play will begin Tuesday (Aug. 3).
After quickly falling behind 5-0, Wagner and Germany rallied to take an 11-10 lead midway through the first quarter. Continuing to focus on scoring down low, Germany held a seven-point advantage before a last-second three-pointer from Australia's Jack Landle cut the deficit, and the Germans finished the quarter up 22-18. A 12-6 second-quarter start by Australia, aided by German turnovers, helped the Aussies cut Germany's lead to just one, 31-30, with under four minutes left in the half.
Following a Dante Exum (Houston Rockets) triple, Australia reclaimed the lead, 33-31, and never relinquished it again, though the Germans tied the game, 50-50, midway through the third quarter. Australia used 19 points off 18 total Germany turnovers, as the Aussies went on to claim the 89-76 victory. Australia's Patty Mills (San Antonio Spurs) led all scorers with 24 points and six assists, while Germany's Andreas Obst's five three-pointers yielded a team-best 17 points.
• Moritz Wagner (Germany): 6 points, 3 rebounds, 14 minutes
• Ekpe Udoh (Nigeria): Did not play
• Stats and Video: Germany | Nigeria (NBCOlympics.com)
Moritz Wagner (USATSI)
Wednesday, July 28
Germany 99, Nigeria 92
Scoring 17 points in just 12 minutes, Moritz Wagner helped the German National Team to its first Group B win, 99-92 over Nigeria at Saitama Super Arena. Limited to 12 minutes after picking up his fourth foul in the final minute of the third quarter, Wagner still managed 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting while draining two three-pointers. He added three rebounds and three steals -- one of which led to a monster dunk. Former Wolverine Ekpe Udoh played eight minutes off the bench for Nigeria and scored two points.
With both teams coming off opening-round losses, Germany and Nigeria tallied 13 lead changes and 14 ties as neither national team wanted to fall to 0-2 in Group B play. After Germany maintained a close first-quarter lead, 24-21, unforced turnovers and red-hot shooting from Nigeria in the second allowed the Nigerians to build a three-point lead of its own with 19 seconds left. However, Germany's Maodo Lo launched a late triple as time expired to draw the game even at the break, 50-50. Wagner finished the first half with 12 points.
The squads battled back and forth in the third quarter as the score remained tied, 74-74, entering the final quarter. With just six minutes remaining and the score tied, 81-81, Germany took advantage of missed Nigerian shots and turnovers to make a late 15-3 run and pull away. Reaching as much as a 14-point lead, Germany was able to hold off a late Nigerian run to earn its first win.
The Germans (1-1) will close Group B play against Australia on Sunday (July 31) at 4:20 a.m. EDT (5:20 p.m. in Japan).
• Moritz Wagner (Germany): 17 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 assist, 12 minutes
• Ekpe Udoh (Nigeria): 2 points, 1 rebounds, 1 assist, 8 minutes
• Stats and Video (NBCOlympics.com)
Ekpe Udoh (Getty Images)
Sunday, July 25
Italy 92, Germany 82
Australia 84, Nigeria 67
In his Olympic debut, Moritz Wagner scored 12 points, grabbed four rebounds and went 6-for-7 from the foul line, but the German National Team could not hold off a late fourth-quarter rally from Italy, dropping its Group B opener 92-82 at Saitama Super Arena. Getting off to a strong start, the Germans closed the first quarter with a 10-point cushion, 32-22. However, the Italians rallied in the second, holding Germany scoreless for nearly six minutes to tie the game, 43-43, with a minute left. A half-closing three-pointer -- with 11 seconds left -- helped give Wagner's squad a small three-point lead, 46-43, at the break.
An opening 11-5 spurt over the first three minutes of the third quarter helped Germany extend its lead to nine, 57-48. However, Italy rallied again and reclaimed its first lead since five minutes into the contest, 63-62, with three minutes left in the period. A closing fourth-quarter 12-0 Italian run helped them overcome a two-point deficit and pull away for the win. While both teams made 15 three-pointers, Italy took advantage of Germany's mistakes, scoring 16 points off turnovers compared to just two for the German squad.
Also making his first appearance in the Olympics, Ekpe Udoh contributed a rebound and a blocked shot in five minutes of action as Nigeria dropped its opener to Australia, 84-67. The teams were tied 23-23 after one quarter, and Nigeria trailed by just three at halftime (43-40) and six after three quarters (58-52) before Australia pulled away for the 17-point win.
• Moritz Wagner (Germany): 12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 21 minutes
• Ekpe Udoh (Nigeria): 1 rebound, 1 block, 5 minutes
• Stats and Video: Germany | Nigeria (NBCOlympics.com)
