Boxscores l Photo Gallery

NOVI SAD (FIBA U19 World Championship) - Serbia trailed by 16 points late in the third quarter and tied the United States near the end of the fourth but ran out of steam and lost to the Americans, 82-78.

In a battle of unbeatens, the USA prevailed and clinched top spot in Group B at the FIBA U19 World Championship with the tournament hosts coming in second.
The encounter was one of the most thrilling contests so far in Novi Sad.

Stephen Curry, who had a game-high 19 points, gave the USA a 63-47 advantage with 54 seconds to go in the third period after making one of two free throws.
Serbia then responded with a 23-7 run, tying the game at 70-70 on Dusan Katnic’s three-ball with 4:48 remaining.

The US twice went in front again, with the Serbians pulling level both times - the second at 75-75 on Milan Macvan’s jumper with 2:03 remaining.

That basket took Macvan’s points haul for the game to 15.

But Curry, who is coming off a solid freshman season at Davidson College, whom he helped fire into the NCAA Tournament, was too good on this day.

Showing his great touch from outside, just like his father Dell Curry once did in the NBA, Stephen Curry connected with his third and final three-pointer with 1:42 to go to restore a 78-75 lead for the US.

They led the rest of the way.

After Stefan Markovic split a pair of free throws, Matthew Bouldin nailed a jumper for the Americans to make it 80-76.

After each team turned the ball over, a Markovic jump shot closed the gap to 80-78 with 33 seconds to play.

The United States were able to run the clock down to eight seconds, and then Patrick Beverley was on target with a jump shot for the final score.

Marko Keselj missed a shot from the arc for Serbia as time expired.

Macvan and Miroslav Raduljica each finished with 15 points for Serbia.

Beverley had nine rebounds to go with 11 points.

The final score might have been different had Serbia been more efficient at the charity stripe, where they made just 19 of 31 (61.2%) for the game, compared to 17 of 21 (80.9%) for the US.

Serbia lost, despite having more success from two-point range where they were 19 of 30 (63.3%).

The Americans finished 22 of 42 (52.3%).

FIBA