MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina -- The Canadian men's basketball team kept its slim chances of qualifying for the London Games alive Wednesday with a 70-68 victory over Uruguay at the FIBA Olympic Americas qualifying tournament.
Andy Rautins hit a three-pointer in the final minute to put Canada ahead to stay. Levon Kendall, who led Canada with 19 points, came through with a clutch block with about seven seconds left to help preserve the win.
Uruguay heaved a desperation three-point attempt in the dying seconds but Canada's Jevohn Shepherd came down with the rebound. Canada, which had a 21-point lead at one point, improved its second-round record to 1-2.
Canada needs to beat Panama on Thursday and get some help from other teams to have a shot of reaching a second-chance Olympic qualifier next summer.
Leandro Garcia Morales led Uruguay with 19 points. Canada's Aaron Doornekamp didn't play due to a concussion and fellow centre Joel Anthony sat out with an ankle injury.
Tournament play ends Sunday with the top two teams qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics. The third- through fifth-place teams will play in the second-chance qualifier to determine the final three Olympic entries.
Canada hasn't qualified for the Olympics since the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney.
