Doug Collins of America sank two free throws with 3 seconds on the clock to put USA up 50-49 at the buzzer. The Soviet coaches charged the scorers' table, saying that they called a timeout at the point of the foul (under the rules at the time, the timeout would have been granted between the two free throws.)

The officials decided to restart play with 3 seconds on the clock, but the clock had not reset by the time play had restarted. The officials noticed and sounded the buzzer for a timeout just as the Soviets were (unsucessfully) attempting a court-length pass.

The officials then decided to restart play again with 3 seconds on the clock; the Soviets made their pass, handing the Americans their first ever Olympic loss.

The Americans unsuccessfully appealed to the IOC (the decision was split, 3-2 in favor of the Soviets, along Cold War lines) stating that the second restart never should have happened. To this day, they have not accepted their silver medals (which now sit in a vault in Switzerland.)

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