Basketball: United States loses at junior basketball worlds

The United States failed to advance to the finals of the World Junior Basketball Championships, losing to Australia 106-85 in a second-round game Wednesday.

Paul Davis, a forward at Michigan State, scored 28 points for the U.S. team, which had its five-game winning streak halted. The Americans finished third in their group behind Australia and Lithuania at 2-1.

The game was tied at 21 after the first quarter, but Australia outscored the Americans 39-27 in the second period to take a 60-48 halftime lead.

Illinois guard Daniel Brown, who scored 47 points against Lithuania on Tuesday, was limited to 14 points. Oklahoma forward De'Angelo Alexander scored 15 points, and UCLA center Ryan Hollins added nine.

Aaron Bruce led Australia with 25 points.

In other games, Linas Kleiza scored 42 points to lead Lithuania to a 90-77 win over Puerto Rico; Korea defeated China 101-72; and Venezuela beat Angola 71-62.

Later Wednesday, Turkey was to face Slovenia, and Croatia was to play undefeated Greece.

The finals begin Friday.

The under-19 tournament was moved from Malaysia because of fears of severe acute respiratory syndrome.

people have to stop thinking that the US will just roll over everyone else now. Other countries are really starting to develop some great talent, as evidenced by the growing amount of foreign players being drafted. These teams also focus more on fundamentals than the US, which seems to be more about athleticism.