Donovan Mitchell (front) of the United States competes during the classification games 5-8 between the United States and Serbia at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in Dongguan, south China's Guangdong Province, Sept. 12, 2019. (Xinhua/Xue Yubin)
DONGGUAN, China, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Bogdan Bogdanovic scored a game-high 28 points as Serbia beat USA 94-89 in the classification game at FIBA Basketball World Cup here on Thursday.
The US will finish their World Cup seventh or eighth, which means it will go home with the worst record in World Cup (Championships) history. The previous worst result for the Americans was sixth at the 2002 World Championships.
"There's no regrets in terms of what we've given, what we've sacrificed, the commitment everyone has made to be away from their families and away from their teams. There's no regrets," Harrison Barnes, who scored 22 points for the USA said after the game.
Bogdanovic made seven three-pointers to score 28 points plus six assists for Serbia. Barnes scored 22 points and Kemba Walker added 18 for the USA.
"It was a really tough game, both teams were upset in the quarters." Bogdanovic said, "we tried to give the best basketball we can and make our people happy."
Serbia led 91-81 with two minutes on the clock in the last quarter before Barnes hit a three from the corner to give hope to the U.S. as Walker added another three. The Americans were only four points down at 91-87 with one minute to go but could not survive with a foul strategy.
Earlier in the game, Bogdanovic hit four three-pointers and Serbia made eight of their nine three-pointer attempts, while the Americans were frozen in the shooting. Serbia built a huge 32-7 lead to end the first quarter.
The USA surged to a 19-4 run in the second quarter and narrow the gap to only ten points at 36-26 and forced Serbia to call a timeout. However, the Americans found their rhythm and continued to cut the deficit to only four as Serbia led 44-40 into the halftime.
After the break, Bogdanovic made his sixth three-pointer and Serbia increased its lead to ten points at 61-51 with five minutes on the clock. However, the Americans got back into the game through Harrison Barnes who scored six points in the quarter. Serbia kept a slender lead at 71-68 in the fourth quarter.
The game turned to an intense battle in the last ten minutes. Boban Marjanovic scored four straight points and assist Vladimir Lucic to hit a three-pointer, helping Serbia build a 10-point lead at 78-68, forcing the Americans into a timeout. The US got back into the game with Barnes scoring nine points which narrowed the margin to six points at 87-81 with 2:44 to go. Bogdanovic stood out to score four straight points to regain the cushion on the scoreboard at 91-81 with two minutes on the clock before Serbia sealed their victory.
"I can't tell you how much I've been impressed the whole time with their character, and their persistence as they are learning how to play together," USA coach Gregg Popovich said after the game.
"Tonight was a great example. They played the game fantastically, consistently. They did absolutely a good job," Popovich added.
