Italy entered the final of the men's basketball tournament by disposing off European champion Lithuania 100-91 at the Athens Olympic Games here on Friday.

Italy will face Argentina, who ousted the United States 89-81, in the gold medal match on Sunday.

Italy beat Argentina 76-75 in the preliminary round while Lithuania defeated the U.S. 94-90 on their first encounter in the tournament.

Gianluca Basile halted Lithuania's come-back efforts with two consecutive 3-pointers for a 11-3 run down the stretch, giving Italy 92-82 lead with over a minute to go.

The point guard led five Italians in double-digits with game- high 31 points.

Arvydas Macijauskas scored 26 points for Lithuania, which finished with bronze medal after an 85-83 loss to the United States in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.