SRB/FRA - Serbia inflicted France's first defeat

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NOVI SAD (FIBA U19 World Championship) - Rampant Serbia inflicted France's first defeat of the FIBA U19 World Championship to secure their passage into the quarter-finals of the competition.

The hosts, who defended superbly throughout, had 18 points from Marko Keselj and 15 from Bojan Marjanovic to advance to nine points - the same total as the French - with one Group E, eighth-final match remaining.

France's top scorer was center Alexis Ajinca (14 points and six rebounds), but they turned the ball over 23 times and were just two of 14 (14.2%) from outside the arc.

Serbia went into a 7-0 lead early on but their opponents had reined them in by the midway point of the first quarter, and it remained nip and tuck for the rest of the half.

Indeed, the first two quarters proved to be a battle of the centers, with Marjanovic (nine points, eight rebounds) and Ajinca (12 points, five rebounds) making hay.

Les Bleuets went into half-time 35-34 ahead before going on two 6-0 runs in the third to edge further clear (51-48) towards the end of that quarter.

However, France's foibles from the charity stripe (50%) helped keep Serbia in touch, and a three-pointer by Keselj with seven seconds remaining levelled things up heading into the final quarter.

Further three-pointers from Dusan Katnic and Mladen Jeremic early in the fourth put Serbia's noses in front and with 3:48 left, the hosts held a 13-point cushion (70-57).

France saw the deficit increase by the final hooter, with scoreless Edwin Jackson (0/7) - who has had a stellar tournament thus far - having an off day with his shooting.

France play USA in a top-of-the-table encounter on Wednesday while Serbia take on Lithuania.

By Steve Douglas
FIBA