Nigeria Advances to Quarterfinals with 86-80 Win

Former Husker Ade Dagunduro and his Nigerian teammates kept their Olympic hopes alive with a stunning 86-80 win over Lithuania on Wednesday.

Needing a win to advance to the quarterfinals, Dagunduro came off the bench and had six points and a team-high three steals against Lithuania, the fifth-ranked team in the world. Nigeria, Lithuania and Venezuela all finished Pool B with identical 1-1 records, but Nigeria and Lithuania advanced to the quarterfinals based on point differential.

Nigeria, which is seeking its first-ever Olympic berth, takes on Greece Friday afternoon 4 p.m. (central). Greece won Pool A with a 2-0 record.

Dagunduro, who is averaging 6.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game, keyed a 10-2 second quarter run with a basket and assist on consecutive possessions early in the second quarter, erasing a 22-20 deficit to build a six-point lead. Midway through the third quarter, the former Husker had a steal and basket to put Nigeria up 55-45, as Nigeria built a double-figure lead and held on down the stretch.