SAITAMA -- He grabbed the final rebound after Nigeria's Ime Udoka missed a layup at the buzzer. He held the ball as tightly as a baby clings to its mother. Then he pumped his clenched fist in celebration.

For Ademola Okuloja and Germany, Sunday's 78-77 win over Nigeria was a reminder that this isn't a one-man team.

Yes, Dirk Nowitzki is the team's spark plug, but Okuloja played a vital role in the team's second-round triumph in the FIBA World Championship on Sunday at Saitama Super Arena.

The big fellow with roots in Africa (birthplace: Nigeria), America (college: University of North Carolina) and Germany (the main locale of his pro career) has now left his mark on a fourth continent's hardwood, scoring 19 points, collected eight rebounds and taking the pressure off Nowitzki to carry the offensive load.

"We need him to be our second scorer," German coach Dirk Bauermann said later, adding, "he's shown what he's capable of doing."

Seconds later, Bauermann dismissed a reporter's notion that Nowitzki is the team's lone marquee name.

"One can't beat five, especially if they are as good as Nigeria," Bauermann said bluntly.

Such was the case Sunday. Demond Greene poured in nine points, while Mithat Demirel and Johannes Herber had seven apiece. And Germany needed every one of those contributions against the African power.

"I think we exceeded the expectations of a lot of the people in the tournament. We played well. We played hard. . . . Our post-game wrap-up was focused on the positives," said Nigeria coach Sam Vincent, a former NBA player.

Nigeria now regroups for the FIBA Africa Championship, which takes place next summer in Angola.

"Right now we have a good foundation in place," Vincent said.

Nigeria, which never led in the final three quarters, was 19-for-32 from the free-throw line. Vincent acknowledged those were too many misses in a close contest.

But to its credit, Nigeria never let up in a fast-paced fourth quarter. Despite trailing by as many as nine, Germany's lead was never a sure thing. Ekene Ibekwe's out-of-nowhere, throwdown tip-in brought the crowd to its feet and made it 78-74 with 1:33 left. Chamberlain Oguchi's two free throws cut it to two with 1:05 left.

Teammate Tunji Awojobi hit 1 of 2 with 35 seconds remaining. Nowitzki missed a shot on the ensuing possession. Nigeria and Germany took turns turning it over on the next two possessions, setting up one more shot for Nigeria. But its last-second layup didn't fall in at the buzzer.

"It was a fought game and it came down to the last second," Ibekwe said. "We didn't come up with the win, Germany did. (But) I'm just really proud of my teammates and myself for coming this far."

Ibekwe put his stamp on this game with a stellar stat line -- 22 points (9-for-13), 10 rebounds and three blocks.

"(I'm) still blocking shots and dunking the ball no matter who I play," he said. "I thank God for the opportunity to play against a great player like Dirk Nowitzki."

Nigeria made things interesting -- and entertaining -- in the third quarter, hitting fallaway jumpers with ease. Gabe Muoneke's spot-up J knotted the score at 58-all with 1:28 left in the quarter.

Nowitzki scored the quarter's final four points from the charity stripe. Cellphone camera flashes sparkled throughout the arena whenever Nowitzki stepped to the foul line, giving the paying customers a special memento, one that displayed his perfect form at the line.

The opening quarter included two highlight reel plays: a trampoline-esque jump and dunk by Ibekwe in the crowded lane and Nowitzki's rim-rattling slam on the fast break.

Nearing the midway point of the second quarter, Nigeria trailed 37-27. Nigeria cut it to eight, but the margin reached 10 again when Okuloja worked the give-and-go to perfection with Nowitzki, who found a gap in the defense and made in a soft shot off the glass.

But Muoneke, who plays for the Seoul Knights of the South Korean League, swished consecutive 3-point shots, and the lead dipped to 41-39 with 2:31 to play in the half. He had 16 points overall.

"I thought every time we made a rally and scored a few points they made a big 3 or a big defensive (stop)," Vincent said.

True to form, Germany pushed the margin to seven and then led 48-44 at the break.