Carlos Arroyo led the attack with a game-high 29 points to give Puerto Rico its first win in the preliminary round in an 88-79 victory over Senegal at the world basketball championship on Sunday.
Arroyo, a point guard for the Orlando Magic, had six rebounds with four assists and went 10-for-11 from the free-throw line, helping his team to a 44-37 lead at halftime in Group D action at Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center.
But Senegal, led by 14 field goals from Makhtar N'diaye and Babacar Cisse, overcame a 15-0 deficit in the first quarter before turning on the engines to take a 67-66 lead in the fourth quarter.
Puerto Rico, however, was not to be denied its first win of the tournament after falling 111-100 to Team USA in Saturday's opener, and pulled away 75-67 before putting its opponent away. Senegal fell to its second loss.