BASKETBALL : BARKLEY BEHAVES HIMSELF IN U.S. ROMP.

Byline: Associated Press 

Charles Barkley threw no elbows this time, but the U.S. men's basketball team tossed its talent around Monday night and overpowered Angola 87-54 in its second game of the Olympics.

Once again, the Dream Team failed to reach 100 points - the Americans beat Argentina 96-68 Saturday night - and the 33-point victory margin was almost half as wide as the original Dream Team's 68-point margin of victory over Angola in Barcelona in 1992.

The 87 points were the fewest for any of the Dream Teams, and the lowest for a U.S. men's Olympic team since a semifinal loss to the Soviet Union in 1988.

``Teams are slowing it down and refusing to run with us, and it's going to keep the deficits smaller,'' U.S. guard John Stockton said. ``It's a challenge for us now to insist that they play our way and not their way.''

Four years ago, the original Dream Team beat Angola 116-48 in a game that saw Barkley elbow Herlander Coimbra and joke that Coimbra might have been carrying a spear. No such roughhousing or insulting occurred in the rematch, although Barkley played the most physical game for the Americans.

He muscled his way to seven points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and he gave the team an infusion of energy that helped it break away after another slow start.

Karl Malone led the Americans with 12 points, while Scottie Pippen had 11 and Mitch Richmond and former UCLA sharpshooter Reggie Miller added 10 apiece.

``I think we took a better step tonight and we'll get better,'' U.S. coach Lenny Wilkens said. ``We're a little bit out of sync, but not to the point where I'm concerned.''

Said Barkley: ``The biggest difference, other than them having four years to practice and watch us, is that no one is in awe of us or intimidated by us anymore. A lot of teams had stage fright the first time around, and they don't have that anymore.''

Barkley entered the game with less than nine minutes left in the first half and the Dream Team leading 24-21. He immediately sparked a 14-3 run that gave the U.S. its first double-digit lead.

Other than Barkley, there were no real standouts, but Anfernee Hardaway was trying. A behind-the-back pass on a fast break landed in the hands of the Angolan coach, and a pair of alley-oop lobs were fumbled by his teammates.

The U.S. had nine dunks and 27 fast-break points, outrebounded Angola 37-17 and shot 57 percent with five 3-pointers.

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Photo

Photo: (color) New Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal fights th rough Angola defense during U.S. win.

Associated Press