Serbia race past Brazil, reach semis

Serbia showed when it counted that they can get the big victory in beating Brazil 84-56 on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals of the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup. 
Serbia lost to Brazil in group play but blew out the South Americans in the second half thanks to 23 points from Milos Teodosic while Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 12 points and both Nenad Krstic and Miroslav Raduljica had 10 points.
Serbia will take on the winner of the later quarter-final between France and hosts Spain. 
Brazil got 12 points from Anderson Varejao and Marquinhos Vieira but the team once again failed to finish in the top four of the Worlds - their seventh straight missed opportunity.
Teodosic started the game hot in the first quarter with eight points in helping Serbia build a 14-9 lead. The Europeans were up 21-17 after 10 minutes. 
After Alex Garcia nailed two three-pointers to give Brazil the lead 23-21, the Serbs went on an 8-0 run. Brazil answered with nine straight points for a 32-29 lead but Serbia scored the final eight points of the half for a 37-32 halftime cushion. 
Serbia once again had a strong start to the second half and won the third quarter 29-12, keyed by a seven-point possess after a foul and technical fouls on both Tiago Splitter and Nene Hilario. Bogdanovic added a three-pointer in the next possession for a 53-36 lead, which was 66-44 after three quarters - deciding the game.
Source: AFP