Guard Wang Shipeng beat the buzzer for the game-winning 3-pointer for China's 78-77 victory over Slovenia, sending China through to the next round from Group D at the World Men's Basketball Championships here on Thursday.

Wang, who was scoreless before the last shot, drove the ball to the left and shot down the biggest jumper of his career with two Slovenian defenders on him.

"The shot could be the biggest one at the international competitions in the history of Chinese basketball," said Yao Ming, who scored 36 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks in the full 40-minute game.

"China had never played in a game that has to be decided by the last shot. We had played games that to be decided by the last couple of minutes. This is the most exciting game for me in the competition," Yao added.

Yao gave his thanks to Wang and said he would pay any price to buy Wang's jersey of the game.

Wang put back the thanks to Yao and coach Jonas Kaslauskas.

"There was no time for me to think about anything before I shot it. When I made that shot, I felt no excitement or happiness until Yao raised me up for the celebration of the win," Wang said.

"I gave my thanks to coach Jonas. He taught me how to keep my belief and never give up," Wang added.

Chinese Zhu Fangyu beat the shot clock with a 3-pointer to close it on 74-73 on the click of one minute remaining.

Sani Becirovic made one free throw before Yao tied it up with a layup with 31 seconds left, his only shot in last six minutes in the no-rest game.

A victory could secure a last-16 berth for Slovenia and Uros Slokar kept the hope alive when he put Slovenia up again with a layup with 5.8 seconds to go.

Wang made the miracle happen to send the whole bench and the Chinese journalists in ovation.

"I'm happy with my team because we fought to win," said Kaslauskas, who is dubbed as "Caesar" by the players.

Becirovic led Slovenia with 20 points while Slokar added 15.

China's Du Feng and Wang Zhizhi scored 11 and 10 points respectively.

Slovenia broke away first with a 11-0 run to take a 33-19 lead in the second quarter.

Yao kept China into the game with 15 points in the first half when Slovenia led by 46-38.

The Houston Rockets' center scored China's all 14 points through quarter four to put China up 60-59.

China finished the fourth of the group regardless of the result of the following match between Puerto Rico and Italy.

Source: Xinhua