World Basketball Championships : U.S. Team Bounces Back to Beat Canada, 77-65

The United States, its championship hopes staggered by an upset loss Sunday to Argentina, remained in contention for the gold medal in the World Basketball Championships by defeating Canada on Monday, 77-65.

Unbeaten Yugoslavia routed Italy on Monday, 102-76, clinching one of the two medal-round berths open to teams in the Oviedo regional. The United States can claim the other with a victory over Yugoslavia tonight.

An American loss, however, would clear the way for Argentina to advance with a victory over Italy. Argentina beat China on Monday, 97-80.

The medal round will begin in Madrid on Thursday.

In the other regional, at Barcelona, the Soviet Union and Brazil clinched spots in the medal round. The Soviets, the reigning world champions, beat Spain, 88-83, and Brazil dumped Israel, 90-75.

The United States, coming off the 74-70 upset by Argentina, bounced back against Canada on the inside play of Charles Smith of Pittsburgh and the outside shooting of Steve Kerr of Arizona.

Kerr, formerly of Palisades High in Los Angeles, came off the bench and sank 4 of 7 three-point shots, finishing with 15 points. Smith used his inside moves to score 18 points, and Derrick McKey of Alabama added 15.

Center David Robinson of Navy fouled out midway through the second half with only 3 points and 3 rebounds, but Armon Gilliam of Nevada Las Vegas took up the slack with 11 points and 9 rebounds.

The defense shut down Canada’s high-scoring guards, including star Jay Triano, who finished with 11 points. Forward Danny Meagher, who played at Duke University, led his team with 19 points.

The United States led, 38-26, at halftime and held their biggest margin at 70-55, with 2:40 left when Gilliam rammed home a dunk after a feed from guard Tyrone Bogues of Wake Forest.

“The key to our win was the play off the bench of Bogues, Kerr and Gilliam,” U.S. Coach Lute Olson of Arizona said. “Defense was also obviously a key. We did the best job on their guards as anyone could expect.

“Despite the loss to Argentina, I think we are playing better than we’ve ever played. Yugoslavia is a great team, and we will have our hands full (tonight).”

Veteran Drazen Dalipagic scored 19 of his 30 points in the second half, many on long-range jump shots, to pace the Yugoslav attack. Aleksandar Petrovic added 24 points, including 6 of 7 three-point shots, and his brother, Drazen Petrovic, had 17.