World Basketball Championships : U.S. Wraps Up 1st Round With Win Over Italy

MALAGA, Spain — The United States routed Italy, 86-64, Thursday night to finish first in Group C after the first round of the World Basketball Championships.

David Robinson, the 6-foot-11 center from the Naval Academy, finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and six blocked shots. Guard Kenny Smith of North Carolina scored 20 points, including two three-point field goals.

Both the U.S. and Italy entered the final game of the weeklong competition with 4-0 records. Italy finished second, China third.

The top three teams advanced to Oviedo to play the top three teams from Group D--Yugoslavia, Canada and Argentina.

Competition in the semifinal round begins Sunday. The U.S. team, as winner of its group, is scheduled to play Argentina, the third-place team from Group D at Tenerife. Another six-team pool (from Groups A and B) will be played at Barcelona before the finals at Madrid, starting July 17.