Paris 2024: South Sudan Eliminated After 96-85 Defeat to Serbia in Men’s Basketball
Serbia secured their place in the Olympic men’s basketball quarterfinals with a 96-85 victory over South Sudan on Saturday. Bogdan Bogdanovic led Serbia with 28 points, while Nikola Jokic contributed 22 points and 13 rebounds.
Despite a strong performance from South Sudan’s Marial Shayok and Carlik Jones, who each scored 17 points, South Sudan’s loss allowed Greece to advance to the knockout stages due to a better point differential.
Serbia, ranked fourth in the world by FIBA, led by a narrow margin of 47-44 at halftime. South Sudan made several efforts to close the gap, including a highlight reel dunk by Wenyen Gabriel, but Serbia’s offensive surge, including back-to-back 3-pointers by Bogdanovic, solidified their lead. Serbia’s decisive 19-3 run in the final minutes ensured their victory and progression to the next round.