A US team of college stars beat Lithuania 89-76 to reach today's Goodwill Games final against Australia, which beat defending champion Puerto Rico 86-74 here in yesterday's other semi-final.

``There is nothing better than to play the US in Madison Square Garden,'' Aussie coach Barry Banes said. ``That moment will be something special.''Shane Heal scored 21 points, Tony Ronaldson added 20 and team scoring Leader Gaze had 15 to lead Australia, which appears a threat to win the World Championships that begin next week in Athens.

``We now can look ourselves in the mirror and honestly say we can play with anyone,'' Gaze said. ``It's no longer a tuneup for us. We're out to win the gold medal. When you have teams of this calibre, it means a lot.

``It does't mean as much as the Olympics. But it means a lotto us and to the Australian people.''

Wally Sczerbiak scored 20 points to pace five double-figure scorers for a speedy us lineup with an average age of only 20 and a height disadvantage against the Aussies.

``These guys are going to have to grow up and add five or six years in the next 24 hours,'' US coach Clem Haskins said. ``We are playing pros who are very physical. If we execute on offense, we have a chance.''

Australia has clinched a medal, something the nation has never before won in Olympic, World or Goodwill Games play.

``This is a big stepping stone for us as a team,'' Heal said. ``We're celebrating. We have an exceptional team here and we're going to be even better in 2000 at the Olympics.''

The Aussies scored the first 14 points of the second half to open a 58.41 lead. Ronaldson had two three-pointers in the run and Puerto Rico came no closer than seven points after that.

One night after Romanian complaints about u s favouritism by gymnastics judges, the US team had its worst results,going without a medal.

China's Huang Xu won the parallel bars and Ivan Ivankov of Belarus won the high bar. Russian Alina Kabayeva won the rhythmic all-round crown. World champion Irina Lashko (Russia), won the one-metre springboard diving title with 278.25 points.