Joe Jackson drives for two of his seven points in the USA's 78-77 victory over Australia which earned the U.S. a fifth place finish.

USA Basketball

Tim Hardaway, Jr. (Michigan/Miami, Fla.) scored a team high 21 points and Jeremy Lamb (Connecticut/Norcross, Ga.) tipped in his own miss to provide the USA with the winning margin as the USA finished off the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship with a nail-biting 78-77 victory over Australia (5-3) in the game to decide fifth place. The American team finished the championship with a 7-2 overall record.

“They completely and totally out toughed us in the first half and our halftime was all about just matching their effort level,” said USA and George Mason head coach Paul Hewitt.

“These guys have some pride, there’s not much you have to say,” said Hewitt on his team’s strong finish after the disappointing quarterfinals loss. “First of all, they have individual pride and have families they represent, and they have USA on their chests so they are going to come out and play very hard.”

Behind five points from Patric Young (Florida/Jacksonville, Fla.) and four more from Doug McDermott (Creighton/Ames, Iowa), the U.S. opened a 15-10 lead with 5:22 to play in the first quarter. Australia countered with a 9-2 offensive spurt to take a 19-18 lead and the U.S. regain the lead after McDermott scored. Australia finished off the final two minutes of the opening stanza by outscoring the USA 5-1 and led 24-21 after the first period.

Australia upped its advantage to as many as eight in the second quarter, but the U.S. continued to fight back. Down 30-22, Hardaway scored eight straight points, hitting a pair of threes and finishing a fast break, to pull the Americans to within two, 32-30. Australia increased its lead back to seven but with 0.8 seconds left before intermission, Hardaway scored on a drive and was fouled, and after making his free throw the deficit stood at 43-39 at halftime. Continue Reading