FIBA Americas: Canada thumps Uruguay in 2nd round

Minnesota Timberwolves guard and former Kansas Jayhawks star Andrew Wiggins is used to playing in packed stadiums.

So when he takes the court against host Mexico with the rest of the Canadian men's basketball team Tuesday night at the FIBA Americas Championship, he'll be ready.

"I feel like big crowds and crazy fans, that get's me going, it gets me motivated," Wiggins said following Canada's 109-82 win over Uruguay Monday night in second-round action at the Olympic qualifying tournament.

Wiggins scored 11 of his 18 points in the third quarter to lead Canada, which got double-digit points from seven different players.

Canada wins 5th straight game

Andrew Nicholson poured in 15 points with 10 rebounds off the bench as the Canadians won their fifth straight game at the tournament. Nik Stauskas had 14 points, Brady Heslip added 13, Melvin Ejim had 11 and Anthony Bennett and Phil Scrubb chipped in 10 apiece.

"We keep saying that we're a deep team," said Canadian coach Jay Triano. "When someone may not be having a good game, or gets into foul trouble or gets injured ... someone else has an opportunity to step up and those two guys [Ejim and Nicholson] really stepped up."

Nicolas Borsellino led Uruguay with 15 points.

Canada plays Mexico on Tuesday night before closing out the second round of group play against the Dominican Republic on Wednesday. Canada needs a win against Mexico to secure a place in the semifinals.

"We know every time in the international game that you play a team in their home country it's loud, it's an environment that you don't really see too often in North America, and we're excited for the opportunity," Triano said. "We've had the opportunity to grow as a team and I don't know if the timing could be better right now."

The top two teams at the tournament qualify for next summer's Olympic Games in Rio.

Argentina, Mexico advance to semifinals

Luis Scola scored 16 points to help Argentina beat Panama 84-57 on Monday to remain undefeated and became the first team to progress to the Olympic qualifier semifinals.

Jorge Gutierrez, a point-guard who plays for Milwaukee, scored a basket with 8.9 seconds to play and Mexico rallied from an 11-point deficit to defeat Venezuela to remain undefeated and also qualified for the semis.

Andres Nocioni added 10 points and nine rebounds for the Argentinians, who are trying to qualify for their fourth straight Olympics.

Argentina still has two games left to play in the second round against Dominican Republic and Mexico but secured its spot in the semifinals with 10 points.

Michael Hicks scored 15 points for Panama.

Gutierrez finished with 20 points and seven rebounds, Gustavo Ayon added 14 points and 11 rebounds for Mexico, looking for its first Olympic berth since Montreal 1976.

Argentina and Mexico lead the tournament with 10 points, Canada has nine, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic seven each, Puerto Rico and Panama have six and Uruguay is last with five.

The top two teams will get berths to Rio in 2016. The teams finishing from third to fifth will qualify for the 2016 FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament, set to be played on July 4-10.

Also on Monday, Jose Juan Barea had 37 points to give Puerto Rico a 98-92 victory over the Dominican Republic to keep its hopes alive to finish in the top five of the tournament in pursuit of its first Olympic berth since 2004 in Athens.

"I..m proud of this team because the players are tired, they are beaten buy they keep fighting and we..re on the hunt for that fifth spot," said Puerto Rico coach Rick Pitino. "We have a chance to qualify and we are going to everything possible to achieve that goal".

Francisco Garcia scored 25 points for the Dominicans, who are still alive in the fight to qualify for the semifinals, but they need to win their last two games and help from other teams.