Australia surprise Serbia, join favourites into Quarters
HERAKLION (2015 FIBA U19 World Championship) - Australia pulled off the one surprise in the Round of 16 at the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championships as they beat Serbia to join seven other favourites into the
HERAKLION (2015 FIBA U19 World Championship) - Australia pulled off the one surprise in the Round of 16 at the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championships as they beat Serbia to join seven other favourites into the Quarter-Finals including reigning champions United States.
Australia used a 13-2 run in the second quarter to take a double digit lead and never gave it up in grabbing a 69-56 victory over Serbia in the Round of 16. Jack McVeigh collected 18 points and 12 rebounds as Australia moved into the Final Eight for the eighth straight time in the competition.
Australia's next opponent will be Turkey, who struggled to beat Iran but won 73-63 thanks to 16 points from Okben Ulubay.
Just like Turkey, the reigning champions USA remained undefeated at the U19 Worlds with a 93-45 drubbing of Argentina as Harry Giles led the way with a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds.
The Americans will square off against Italy in the Quarter-Finals as the Europeans continue to play well in their first U19 tournament since 1995. The Italians knocked off Dominican Republic, 82-73, thanks to 21 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks from Luca Severini.
Hosts Greece also picked up their fourth straight triumph, rolling past Tunisia, 100-48, with Tyler Dorsey collecting 25 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals. Greece also saw Vasilis Charalampopoulos play his first significant time during the tournament.
The Greeks will take on Spain, who got past Egypt, 67-60, as Marc Garcia scored 21 points.
The final Quarter-Final match-up has Croatia playing Canada.
Canada blasted past Korea, 100-64, as Dillon Brooks and Justin Jackson combined for 39 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists and four steals.
Croatia joined the final eight thanks to a 75-68 win over China as Ivica Zubac and Luka Bozic combined for 42 points and 19 rebounds for Croatia, who played without Ante Zizic, Ivan Vranes and Dragan Bender.
Thursday is a rest day.
The action resuming on Friday with the following games.
Quarter-Finals (played at Heraklion Arena):
Turkey-Australia
Croatia-Canada
USA-Italy
Spain-Greece
Classification Games 9-16 (played at University Hall):
Argentina-Dominican Republic
China-Korea
Egypt-Tunisia
Iran-Serbia
FIBA