FIBA U19M - USA survive Serbian scare, Spain top despite loss

PRAGUE (FIBA U19 World Championship) - The United States remained the only undefeated team at the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship and joined Spain in taking top honors in their Eight-Final Round groups while Canada and Australia claimed the final two spots in the Quarter-Finals.

Team USA were given all they could handle by Serbia in a 71-62 victory in a battle of perfect teams battling for supremacy in Group F.

Jahlil Okafor scored 16 points and Rasheed Sulaimon added 15 points for the Americans, who improved to 6-0 and set up a Quarter-Final date with Canada.

Serbia dropped their first game of the tournament and were within four points 54-50 with seven minutes to play but the Americans pulled away late.

Vasilje Micic led all scorers with 24 points while Jovan Novak had 13 points.

The Americans, who had a 35-21 lead shortly before the half, held the Serbian interior duo of Nikola Milutinov and Nikola Jankovic to nine points combined - 16.2 points below their combined average going into the game.

Serbia took second place and will now face Croatia in the Quarter-Finals.

Croatia finished third in Group E with a 5-1 record after an 81-60 victory over Iran, with Dario Saric once again leading the way with 27 points, nine rebounds and four assists while Tomislav Gabric scored 20 points.

Iran will enter the Classification Round 9-12 with a 1-5 record for fifth place in the group after Saleh Foroutannik collected 17 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks.

Group E’s big showdown between Lithuania and Spain was a close battle throughout with Lithuania winning 61-59 but Spain taking first place because they could have afforded a five-point defeat.

Marius Grigonis scored 13 points while Augustinas Jankaitis and Martinas Geben both had 10 points for Lithuania, who will play China in the final eight.

China had already locked up third place in the group and rested center Qi Zhou in an 87-77 loss to already-eliminated Brazil, who were placed by 17 points and 10 rebounds from Deryk Ramos.

Spain, who will take on Australia in the quarters, suffered their first defeat despite 13 points and six rebounds from Guillermo Hernangomez and 11 points from Edgar Vicedo.

Australia moved into the Last Eight by beating Russia 78-61 with Dante Exum leading the way with 20 points, six assists and three steals. Dane Pineau chipped in 16 points and six rebounds for the Aussies, who finished fourth in Group F.

Russia, who got 17 points from Igor Kanygin, will now play in the Classification Round 9-12.

Canada was the other team to book their spot into the quarters on the final game day.

Trey Lyles collected 21 points and 12 rebounds in a 78-62 win over Argentina in Group E. Tyler Ennis added 17 points and Xavier Rathan-Mayes scored 16 for Canada, who finished the group play at 3-3 for fourth place.

Argentina, who were paced by Gonzalo Torres’ 16 points, took sixth place with a 1-5 record and will play in the Classification Round 9-12.

In the Classification Round 13-16, Sang Jae Kang and Jun Yong Choi combined for 43 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists, four steals and two blocks to lead Korea to a 73-67 victory over Cote d’Ivoire and 13th place in the tournament with a 2-1 record.

Dalen Traore scored 22 points for Cote d’Ivoire with Aboubakar Traore adding 14 points and 12 rebounds for the debutants finished 15th with a 1-2 record.

Prokop Slanina had 19 points and eight rebounds as the hosts Czech Republic beat Senegal 80-78 to take 14th place.

Senegal ended the tournament in 16th place with a 1-2 record even though Pape Diatta had 20 points and Abdoulaye Ndoye collected 16 points and 13 rebounds.

Thursday is a day off and the action resumes on Friday.

Friday's Quarter-Finals are as follows (all times CET):
13:15: Lithuania v China
15:30: Spain v Australia
18:00: Croatia v Serbia
20:15: Canada v USA

FIBA