Serbia’s 96-85 win over South Sudan puts Greece in the quarterfinals

Greece's basketball team has reached the quarterfinals at the Olympics as Serbia defeated South Sudan 96-85 Saturday night.

South Sudan, like Greece in Group A and Brazil in Group B, ended third in its group. All three teams had a 1-2 record, but Brazil had a point differential of -7, Greece had -8 and South Sudan -17. Greece wanted Serbia to win by 3 or more points to advance to the quarterfinals, and the Serbs obliged.

South Sudan kept the game close through three quarters, trailing 23-22 after the first quarter, 47-44 at halftime and 72-67 after the third. Early on in the final quarter, a 3-pointer by Marial Shayok cut South Sudan's deficit to 78-74. But the African team would not score again until 2:25 from the end, allowing Serbia a 13-0 run during their scoring drought.

Sudan did not give up and another Shayok 3-pointer cut the deficit to 92-85 36 seconds...