Stockholm, SWEDEN, September 12 (www.eurobasket2003.com) - Since the game wasn't of great importance for either of the teams they rested their best players. Predrag Stojakovic sat for the second straight game because of a sprained ankle, Marko Jaric had a broken nose. Andrei Kirilenko suffered from a back injury.
Russia struggled to score in Kirilenko's absence in the beginning of the game, and trailed 29-18 after the first quarter. Russia eventually fought it's way back into the game and kept chipping away at the Serbian lead. In the fourth quarter Russia put on a final effort and got to within one point with the score 71-70 in favour of Serbia & Montenegro and 3 minutes 33 seconds left on the game clock.
Serbia&Montenegro was able to pull away again, on 3 Gurovic free throws and an Avdalovic layup, making the score 76-71. Russia never got closer than 5 points again after that.
"We had done a thorough analysis of the game we lost against Russia in the preliminary round. Today we succeded to play against their zone defense.", said coach Dusan Vujosevic.
Center Predrag Drobnjak had a great first half for Serbia&Montenegro, scoring 13 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. Drobnjak finished with 14 plus 9 for the game and also added 3 assists and 2 steals. Milan Gurovic scored 24 points on 5 of 14 shooting. All of his field goals was 3-pointers. Gurovic went to the line 12 times in the second half, hitting 9 of his free throws. Dusan Vukcevic started in place of the injured Jaric and scored 16 points.
For Russia forwards Sergei Monia and Victor Khriapa played big minutes in Kirilenko's absence. They both had trouble shooting the ball but finished with respectable numbers. Khriapa scored 9 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Monia had 14 points. Zakhar Pachoutine came of the bench to score 13 points.
Serbia&Montenegro will face Greece in a game for fifth place on Sunday.
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