The Golden Star Boomers Australian men’s national basketball team have suffered a heart-breaking 93-79 loss to world number five ranked team Serbia at the 2010 FIBA World Championships in Kayseri, Turkey.
The defeat sets up a crucial clash with reigning African Champions Angola in the Boomers’ final Group A preliminary round game at 11:30PM Australian Eastern time on Friday evening which will determine if Australia advances to the sudden death second round.
Australia (ranked 11th in the world) had hoped to improve on their 2-1 record with a win over the Serbs and were within three points in the final two minutes but Serbia closed out the game strongly to move into outright second in Group A with a 3-1 record. The Boomers will now remain in third position in Group A, tied on 2-2 with the winner of the Germany-Angola game later this evening.
Brad Newley top-scored for the Boomers with 13 points in a standout performance, while Patrick Mills added 12 points, six assists and four rebounds. Matt Nielsen and Aleks Maric each chipped in with 10 points.
Milos Teodosic had 19 points to lead the Serbs, and Novica Velickovic added 18. Serbia’s NBA centre Nenad Krstic, who returned from a three-game suspension for fighting in time for the game, contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Australia seemed to struggle to shake off the rust after a rest day on Wednesday as Serbia opened up an early 14-7 lead. The Boomers steadied however behind some strong play from Mark Worthington and were down by just four, 16-12, at the first break.
Serbia went 5-of-10 from the perimeter in the second period, including consecutive triples to Marko Keselj, and opened up a 41-30 lead. Australia made a run an closed within four on a Maric jumper, eventually heading into the half down 43-37
The Boomers had their chances in the third period but couldn’t capitalise and were still down by five points, 69-61, with one quarter to play.
Maric opened the final stanza scoring with a two but Serbia maintained their edge throughout the final period. The Boomers pulled within a single basket, 81-78, with 2:07 left in the match on a Nielsen three, but Serbian guard Teodosic responded immediately with a triple of his own and the Serbs drew away for the win.
Australia 79 (Brad Newley 13, Patrick Mills 12, Matt Nielsen 10, Aleks Maric 10)
Defeated by
Serbia 93 (Milos Teodosic 19, Novica Velickovic 18, Nenad Krstic 14)
Click here to see World Championship group standings.
2010 FIBA World Championship
Australian Boomers Preliminary Round Schedule
Date - Opponent - Time (Local/AEST) - Venue
28 Aug Australia 76 defeated Jordan 75
29 Aug Australia 72 defeated by Argentina 74
30 Aug Australia 78 defeated Germany 43
1 Sept Australia 79 defeated by Serbia 93
2 Sept Australia vs. Angola 4:30PM/11:30PM Kayseri
