Team USA Routs Spain In Final Pre-Olympic Exhibition

The final exhibition game for the United States men’s national basketball team is in the books. Following a resounding 100-78 defeat of Spain in Barcelona on Tuesday, the 2012 edition of Team USA heads into the 2012 Summer Olympics in London with a perfect 5-0 record in its tune-up slate. The Americans will attempt to continue to assert their dominance all the way to a gold medal at the 2012 Summer Games, which kick off with Friday’s Opening Ceremony.

Spain jumped out to an early nine-point lead in Tuesday’s rematch of the gold-medal game from the ‘08 Olympics in Beijing, but the U.S. roared back in the second quarter to take an eight-point lead into halftime. In the second half, Team USA padded its lead and kept Spain at a comfortable distance. Midway through the third quarter, the outcome began to seem like an inevitability.

The United States men’s national basketball team is midway through its final exhibition game against Spain at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona on Tuesday. Entering halftime, Team USA has overcome an early nine-point deficit and leads by a score of 48-40. The United States is attempting to wrap up its exhibition slate without a loss before beginning tournament play at the 2012 Summer Olympics, which begin in London later this week.

Spain and Team USA famously faced off in the gold medal game at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. This exhibition game may very well be a preview of a final-round rematch in the upcoming 2012 Olympics.

It’ll be an excellent test for both teams as the USA plays its final tune-up game before beginning its actual Olympic schedule against France on Sunday morning. Team USA is 5-1 against Spain since the 1992 Olympics -- America’s last big win against the Spaniards came in the gold medal game at the 2008 Olympics -- but a matchup against the second-ranked team is not to be overlooked.

Team USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski noted as much, too, following the team’s victory over Argentina.