Rio Olympics: Andrew Bogut rips refs after Australia’s controversial loss

This was easily one of the best games of the tournament, with the two teams exchanging leads throughout the 40 minutes.

Boomers captain David Andersen, playing in his fourth Olympics, backed the professional experience within the Boomers roster to bounce back and give Spain everything they could handle tonight. With 5.7 seconds to go, Australia looked to get the ball to Mills coming off a weak-side screen, but Ricky Rubio poked the ball out of Dave Andersen’s hands and into the backcourt to ice the win for Spain.

Pau Gasol led the way for Spain, as the San Antonio Spurs big man put up 31 points and 11 rebounds. Pau Gasol went to the line with 29 seconds left and answered with two free throws of his own, but a hook shot out of the high post from Australia’s Aron Baynes would give the boys from Down Under an 88-87 advantage.

Asked if he felt the call was correct, Rodriguez said, “I’d have to check on the screen, but that’s what the referee called”.

Turning Point: In such a close game, decided on one play, Australia’s inability to get control of the ball and get in the dying seconds is likely to haunt them.

As late as 2:46 on the clock, and with the Boomers clinging to a one-point lead, both teams swapped scores with Gasol and Baynes among those responding to the opposition with baskets.

As he had been throughout these Olympics, Gasol was a machine for Spain.

It was clear the Spanish were going to lean on National Basketball Association stars Gasol and Nikola Mirotic and the duo proved hard to contain.

Former University of Utah center Andrew Bogut fouled out at the eight-minute mark of the third quarter.

THIRD QUARTER: The action resumes and Boomers take lead for first time since first score of the game.

As always, the final call of a game will get the most attention, even though – in a one-point game – every possession in all four quarters was crucial.

Spain was also in search of redemption – primarily for losing to the under-performing Americans in a semifinals game they could-have-should-have won. As it turns out, it was Spain’s Rodirguez being the beneficiary of a foul call with only 5.4 seconds left in the game.

Yet as they did all game, the Australians immediately went on a 6-0 run to tie the game, which was capped off by a terrific drive and dunk by Brock Motum.

Andrew Bogut is fouled out.

National Basketball Association veteran Pau Gasol then ensured his team would not be left behind early dunking with a drive down the centre of the keyway and drawing a Baynes foul.

What began as a simple pursuit for a medal of any variety became a quest for gold after the realisation this Boomers team had something special about.

Assistant coach Luc Longley, who had played for Australia in Olympic bronze medal matches and come away with nothing, said “All of us, coaching staff as well, have to take stock”, Longley said.