The White T-mac

SAITAMA, Japan (AP) -- Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points and made a key defensive play in the closing seconds to lead Germany to a 78-77 victory over Nigeria on Sunday in the second round of the FIBA world championships.

Nowitzki gave Germany a 78-71 lead on a slam dunk with 2 1/2 minutes left in the game.

Nigeria pulled to within one on free throws by Chamberlain Oguchi and Tunji Awojobi and had a chance to take the lead with seconds remaining. Ime Udoka drove for the basket but Nowitzki tipped his shot and grabbed the rebound at the final buzzer.

"We led the whole game and we looked a little bit shaky at the end," Germany's coach Dirk Bauermann said. "The play at the end could have gone either way honestly. We switched on the pick and roll and Dirk did a good job of making it a tough shot for Udoka."

Udoka's teammates thought a foul should have been called on the play but there was no whistle.

"We had the last shot," Udoka said. "I had a good look and didn't finish it so I'm very disappointed. We should be in the final eight."

Germany (5-1) will face the United States (6-0) in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. The U.S. beat Australia 113-73 in the second round.

Ademola Okulaja scored nine straight points in the fourth quarter for Germany. He hit a 3-pointer two minutes in and was fouled on a layup just over a minute later.

Okulaja, who played for North Carolina from 1995-99, hit a 3-pointer with 5:36 remaining to make it 73-64.

"Okulaja played a great game," Bauermann said. "We need him to be our second scorer and he's finding his rhythm and is showing what he is capable of doing."

Germany opened the third quarter with a layup by Steffen Hamann and a basket by Nowitzki to take a 52-44 lead but Nigeria coach Sam Vincent called a timeout and his team kept it close.

Gabe Muoneke hit a jumper with 1:28 left in the third period to tie the game 58-58. Nowitzki made four free throws to give Germany a four-point lead after three periods.

Germany finished in second place in Group B with a 4-1 record. In their final game of the preliminary round, Nowitzki scored 11 of his 47 points in the third overtime to give Germany a 108-103 victory over Angola.

Nigeria finished with a 2-3 record in Group A.

AAUBall08

If that point guard would have made that layup at the end then Nigeria would have won, and I thought that should have been a foul but oh well. At least I get to see the USA play Dirk. I wonder who will be checking him.

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