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KAYSERI, Turkey: After their soul crushing win over Germany on Monday evening Australia have been brought back down to earth on Wednesday, falling to Serbia 94-79.
Australia were confident going into the game, given their performance against Germany and the fact that Germany had beaten Serbia earlier in the tournament.
But early on it was Serbia showing the benefits of a days rest, with Milos Teodosic putting 8 points on the Australians in the first quarter giving his team a 16-12 advantage.
The situation would not improve for Australia early in the second quarter as the Serbs continued to surge ahead, leading by as much as 11. However as half-time approached Australia were able to put some respectability back into the score-line to trail by just 6 (43-37) when the hooter sounded.
Adam Gibson was the main contributor for the Australians in the first half with 8 points, while Patrick Mills continued to control the Australian tempo with 5 points and 4 assists.
The gap opened up again following half-time as Serbia continued to hurt Australia under the basket, making their shots and in the process drawing fouls as Adam Gibson and Joseph Ingles both found themselves in foul trouble.
However, down by 8, Australia were by no means out of the game with a quarter left to play.
But Serbia held steady, with Teodosic (19 points) and Novica Velickovic (18 points) inflicting the most damage for the Serbs as Australia began to fade. In the end it was a comfortable victory for Serbia.
Only four players would make double figures for Australia with Brad Newley's 13 making him his team's top point scorer. Mills finished with 12 points and 6 assists while Matthew Nielson and Aleksandar Maric managed 10 points each.
World basketball championship results on Wednesday:
Group A
Serbia 94 Australia 79
Angola 92 Germany 88 in over-time
Argentina 88 Jordan 79
Group B
Croatia 84 Tunisia 64
USA 88 Iran 51
Slovenia 80 Brazil 77
Group C
Russia 89 China 80
Greece 97 Ivory Coast 60
Turkey 79 Puerto Rico 77
Group D
New Zealand 71 Canada 61
Spain 91 Lebanon 57
Lithuania 69 France 55
- AFP/de
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