Australia, US reach quarters with unbeaten marks at world junior basketball championships

US unbeaten at world junior basketball champs

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — The United States and Australia stretched their unbeaten records to six games at the FIBA under-19 world basketball championships Wednesday, heading their pools and emerging as top qualifiers for the quarterfinals.

The United States shrugged off Lithuania 76-69 while Australia topped its six-team pool with a 79-74 win over previously unbeaten Croatia.

The US will face neighbor Canada in Friday’s quarterfinals, while Australia will meet France. Croatia will take on Puerto Rico and Greece will face Argentina.

Tyshawn Taylor scored 13 points and Clay Thompson and Darius Miller each scored 10 against Lithuania. The Americans led 18-16 in the first period before Lithuania rallied to tie it at 36 heading into halftime.

Lithuania took a 43-40 lead before the US pulled ahead for a 55-51 lead after the third quarter. The United States made only 30 of 70 shots from the field, including going 7-for-22 on 3-point attempts.

Tautvydas Julius Slezas led Lithuania with 21 points and 12 rebounds.

Matthew Dellavedova led all scorers with 17 points for Australia against Croatia, which is likely to face Puerto Rico, a 99-71 winner over Egypt, in the quarterfinals Friday.

Australia trailed 24-19 after the first quarter and 37-34 at halftime before outscoring Croatia 45-37 the rest of the way. Cody Ellis scored 14 points and pulled down four rebounds while Brock Motum and Mitchell Young each had 10 points.

Toni Prostran and Tominslav Zubcic led Croatia with 14 points apiece.

Canada beat top-ranked Argentina 67-57 in one of the upsets of the second round.

Greece established an early lead, then showed composure down the stretch to clinch its playoff place with a 76-72 win over France.

Puerto Rico comfortably beat Egypt 99-71 ahead of its quarterfinal against Croatia.