With Only 83 Points, Team Not Very Dreamy

The United States men’s basketball team hit a new low Wednesday night, managing only 83 points--its lowest total of the Dream Team era.

The Americans made only two baskets in the final 5 1/2 minutes of a physical 83-61 victory over Venezuela, eclipsing the previous low of 87 against Angola in the 1996 Olympics.

“I think if we really wanted to go out there looking at records, we could have scored more,” guard Steve Smith said.

It was the fourth time in seven games in the Tournament of the Americas at San Juan, Puerto Rico, that the United States failed to reach 100, something that happened only once in the first 22 Dream Team games in 1992, 1994 and 1996.

In other games, Puerto Rico defeated Canada, 80-75, Brazil defeated Uruguay, 100-74, and Argentina beat the Dominican Republic, 85-71.

Miscellany

Pistol shooter Abel Juncosa Reyes of Cuba defected when his team arrived at the Pan American Games, sources confirmed Wednesday at Winnipeg, Canada. Reyes walked into a Royal Canadian Mountain Police station Tuesday and asked to remain in Canada. He was turned over to federal immigration authorities, then released, pending an immigration hearing, probably in September.

Jeff Kearin will be hired today as Cal State Northridge football coach, a source familiar with the school’s search said Wednesday. Kearin, 39, was a Matador assistant the last four seasons. He left after the 1998 season to become an assistant to John Robinson at Nevada Las Vegas. Kearin replaces Ron Ponciano, who was fired Friday after one season for alleged NCAA rules violations.

Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas, 66, was released from the University of Maryland Medical Center a day after he was admitted for chest pains that doctors said they believed were gastrointestinal in nature.

Maurice Greene powered away from Francis Obikwelu in the last 40 meters to win the 200 meters in 20.13 seconds in a Golden League meet at Paris. Marion Jones outclassed the women’s 200 field in 21.99 seconds. She is unbeaten in 18 races spanning three years.

Harry Ranier, a NASCAR Winston Cup car owner whose 24 victories included three at the Daytona 500, died from a heart attack at Davidson, N.C. He was 62.

Hockey

The Kings, who have said they aren’t in the market to sign high-priced free agents this off-season, signed center Len Barrie, left wing Bill Huard, right wing Brad Chartrand and goaltender Mike O’Neill.

Ulf Dahlen, a 32-year-old right wing who spent the last two seasons in his native Sweden, signed with the Washington Capitals.

Jurisprudence

A woman who accused San Francisco 49er reserve quarterback Jim Druckenmiller of rape testified that she passed out in a bed and awoke to find him having sex with her. The prosecution rested its case in Christiansburg, Va. . . . Arkansas defensive end Carlos Hall was arrested on a forgery complaint after police in Fayetteville, Ark., say he stole three checks made out to the university and cashed them at a bank.

* Randy Harvey is on assignment.