Echenique's Olympic Run Ends as Venezuela Eliminated

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Venezuela was eliminated from medal contention on Sunday night at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, falling 81-56 to Australia to finish play with a 1-4 record.

Creighton graduate Gregory Echenique had two rebounds and two blocked shots in 15 scoreless minutes during the contest. He finished the Olympics leading Venezuela in leading the team in points (9.2), rebounds (3.8) and blocked shots (0.6) per game, and was also tops by shooting 66.7 percent (16-24) from the field while starting all five games.

Venezuela trailed just 32-25 at half and 53-43 after three quarters before Australia pulled away in the final quarter.

Echenique was Creighton's first Olympian on the hardwood since Willard Schmidt played for the US in 1936. Echenique and Schmidt are two of five Olympians in Creighton history, joining Carl Vincequerra (1936 boxing), Scott Servais (1988 baseball) and Chad McConnell (1992 baseball). Schmidt and Servais are the only two Bluejays to earn a medal, with each man taking home a gold medal.

The top four teams in each pool advance, but Venezuela finished fifth of six teams in Group A. The South American country, playing in the Olympics for the second time ever (1992), picked up its lone win on Aug. 10 vs. China.

Previous features on Gregory Echenique
July 30: Basketball Alum Gregory Echenique Named to Venezuelan National Team; Will Compete in Olympics
July 30: Creighton Coach Greg McDermott Discusses Olympian Gregory Echenique
Aug. 5: Exclusive Interview With Olympian Gregory Echenique
Aug. 6: Echenique Scores 12 In Olympic Debut For Venezuela
Aug. 8: Team USA Too Much For Venezuela; Echenique
Aug. 10: Echenique Helps Venezuela To Victory in Olympics
Aug. 12: Echenique Scores 12 But Venezuela Falls to France

Echenique's Olympic Run Ends as Venezuela Eliminated

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