Brezec, Dragic key Slovenia’s easy win
September 5, 2010
ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP)—Jaka Lokovic scored 19 points and Slovenia hit 16 of33 3-pointers to eliminate Australia 87-58 Sunday in the round of 16 at thebasketball world championship.
Lokovic’s corner 3-pointer in the game’s opening seconds sparked a 12-0 runand Slovenia never looked back. Primoz Brezec(notes) of the Milwaukee Bucks had 12points and Goran Dragic(notes) added 10 points and eight assists for Slovenia.
Slovenia’s guards cut into Australia’s interior defense all game for easylooks or passes to wide-open perimeter shooters.
“We did a poor job of getting to their 3-point shooters,” Australian coachBrett Brown said. “We pride ourselves for playing hard, tough defense. We don’thave great athletes, we aren’t very quick.”
Australia didn’t score until Joseph Ingles’ layup 4 1/2 minutes into the game.Australia’s 6-foot-6 Brad Newley(notes) blocked 6-10 center Gaspar Vidmar’s two-handeddunk from behind as time ran out in the first quarter with Slovenia leading16-8.
“We chased the whole game, defensively, offensively from start to finish,”Brown said.
Lakovic led Slovenia with 11 points in the first half as Slovenia hit 8 of17 3s.
“Our tactic was to shoot a lot from 3-point because the Australia defensewas playing very tight” inside, Slovenian coach Mehmed Becirovic said.
The Australians, meanwhile, couldn’t get on track. When Patrick Mills(notes) of thePortland Trail Blazers threw up an airball with seconds left in the half it wasthe seventh miss of seven 3-point attempts for the Boomers in the half.Australia made only 18 of 58 from the field for the game.
Ingles and Mills had 13 apiece for Australia.
Slovenia made 5 of 8 three-pointers in the third quarter to build a 71-45lead. Lakovic and guards Sani Becirovic and Dragic continued to carve into theAustralia’s defense. Slovenia finished with 18 assists to five for Australia.
“There’s not much to say when you look at these stat sheets,” Australiaforward Matthew Nielson said.
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