LIMA, Peru – Team USA had no answers defensively against a veteran Argentina squad and lost 114-75 in the Pan American Games semifinals Saturday night at Dibos Coliseum.

Team USA will play Dominican Republic in the bronze-medal game on Sunday at 7 p.m. on ESPNU. Argentina well meet Puerto Rico for the gold medal.

“Argentina showed why they are one of the best teams in the world,” said head coach Ed Cooley. “I’ve been proud of our effort in this tournament and tomorrow we have a chance to win a bronze medal against the Dominican Republic. We have to bounce back quickly and I believe we will.”

Providence College sophomore David Duke put together a good all-around performance with a team-high 16 points, four assists and three steals. Friar teammate A.J. Reeves added 12 and Creighton's Geoff Groselle scored 10 but they were the only USA players to score in double figures.

The real problems were found on defense. Argentina shot 58 percent from the field and dominated the collection of Big East all-stars with a group of veteran international players featuring former Houston Rocket big man Luis Scola (18 points, 7 rebounds) and ex-George Washington University star Patricio Garino (14). Gabriel Deck, a star for Real Madrid in the Euroleague, led all scorers with 23 points.

What makes Argentina such a tremendous challenge? “Their strength, their experience and they’ve been together for so long,” said Duke. “Scola was a longtime NBA veteran and they utilize him very well. And basically, the whole team can shoot.”

From the opening tip, Argentina was able to use its superior size and formidable length to score inside. They took a 17-10 lead with only one basket coming from 3-point range. Team USA also had some early success inside with Myles Powell (Seton Hall) and Groselle splitting the first eight points. But Argentina kept up the offensive pressure around the basket with an occasional kick out for an open 3-pointer. The period ended with Team USA down 29-18.

Not much changed in the second quarter. Team USA struggled to keep Argentina's Scola from having his way in the lane and with the exception of some boost from the backcourt of Powell and Duke, Team USA could not knock down the deficit to less than double figures. Argentina won the second quarter 32-18 to own a commanding 61-36 lead at the break. For the first half, Team USA made only 13-of-30 from the floor and did not hit a 3-pointer in six attempts.

In third quarter, Argentina increased its lead with some more inside offense out of its half-court sets mixed in with an occasional layup off a fast break. Team USA’s cold shooting continued with the squad unable to make a shot from beyond the arc until Ty-Shon Alexander of Creighton connected on a trey with 28.6 seconds left in the period. Argentina led 91-65 going into the fourth.

Argentina hit the 100-point mark with six minutes left in the game. The U.S. shot 38 percent for the game and finished a woeful 3-of-24 from behind the 3-point stripe.

The Dominican Republic lost a 65-63 heartbreaker to Puerto Rico in the semifinals. In preliminary round play, the D.R. gave Argentina a stiff fight before losing, 102-97.