updated 6:51 p.m. ET Aug. 28, 2004

ATHENS, Greece - Pau Gasol was 14-for-16 from the field and scored 37 points to lead Spain to a 92-76 victory over China and seventh place in the men’s basketball tournament.

The finish was a disappointing end for Spain (6-1), which finished preliminary play unbeaten only to lose 102-94 to the United States in the quarterfinals.

This was Spain’s best finish since taking eighth in 1988. Its only medal in 10 Olympic appearances was the silver in 1984.

Gasol, who had seven rebounds, finished two points off the top scoring effort of the tournament — by Yao Ming of China against New Zealand. It was the sixth game of 30 or more points in the tournament. The Olympic record is 55 points by Oscar Schmidt of Brazil against Spain in 1988.

The 7-foot-6 Yao, who fouled out with 3:52 to play and China (2-5) trailing 81-63, finished with 14 points and seven rebounds.

The 7-1 Gasol, who plays for the Memphis Grizzlies, had 21 points and 11 rebounds in Spain’s 83-58 victory over China in the preliminary round opener. Yao, who plays for the Houston Rockets, had 12 points and eight rebounds in that game.

China matched its best Olympic finish, 1996, the only time it made the quarterfinals in eight appearances. China, which lost 95-75 to Lithuania in the quarterfinals, is the only country guaranteed a berth in the 2008 tournament right now as it will host the games in Beijing.

Greece 85, Puerto Rico 75
Greece gave its basketball fans one last day of cheering, chanting and celebrating with a victory over Puerto Rico to finish fifth.

Michail Kakiouzis scored 20 points for Greece, which surprised many by advancing to the quarterfinals and then matching its best Olympic finish. Greece was fifth in 1996.

Elias Ayuso led Puerto Rico with 14 points.

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