Olympics: Serbia beats slow-starting Australia 87-61 in men's basketball semifinal

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Aron Baynes (12) of Australia, tries to knock the ball from the hands off
Nikola Jokic (14) of Serbia, in basketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Serbia celebrates their trouncing of Australia, in basketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Joe Ingles (7) of Australia watches the final minutes from the bench, as Serbie extends their lead, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Milos Teodosic (4) of Serbia guards Matthew Dellavedova (8) of Australia, in basketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Matthew Dellavedova (8) ofAustralia, guards Milos Teodosic (4) of Serbia in basketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

David Andersen (13) of Australia goes for th ball along with Bogdan Bogdanovic (7) of Serbia, in basketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Andrew Bogut (6) of Australia guards Miroslav Raduljica (13) of Serbia defends, in basketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Andrew Bogut (6) of Australia tosses a pass, as Miroslav Raduljica (13) of Serbia defends, in basketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Joe Ingles (7) leads a fast break for Australia, in basketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Patty Mills (5) of Australia, tries to get the ball past Nikola Kalinic (10) of Serbia, in basketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Stefan Markovic (9) of Serbia tries to stop a fast break by Joe Ingles (7) of Australia after he stole the ball away, in basketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Patty Mills (5) of Australia, tries to get the ball past Stefan Jovic (24) of Serbia and Nikola Kalinic (10) of Serbiabasketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Patty Mills (5) of Australia, tries to get the ball past Stefan Jovic (24) of Serbia add ss10/basketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Vladimir Stimac (15) of Serbia reacts after dunking the ball in the final seconds of the game, in basketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016.

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Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Aron Baynes (12) of Australia, tries to knock the ball from the hands off Nikola Jokic (14) of Serbia, in basketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Serbia celebrates their trouncing of Australia, in basketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Joe Ingles (7) of Australia watches the final minutes from the bench, as Serbie extends their lead, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Milos Teodosic (4) of Serbia guards Matthew Dellavedova (8) of Australia, in basketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Matthew Dellavedova (8) ofAustralia, guards Milos Teodosic (4) of Serbia in basketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune David Andersen (13) of Australia goes for th ball along with Bogdan Bogdanovic (7) of Serbia, in basketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Andrew Bogut (6) of Australia guards Miroslav Raduljica (13) of Serbia defends, in basketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Aron Baynes (12) of Australia, tries to knock the ball from the hands off Nikola Jokic (14) of Serbia, in basketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Andrew Bogut (6) of Australia tosses a pass, as Miroslav Raduljica (13) of Serbia defends, in basketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Joe Ingles (7) leads a fast break for Australia, in basketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Patty Mills (5) of Australia, tries to get the ball past Nikola Kalinic (10) of Serbia, in basketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Stefan Markovic (9) of Serbia tries to stop a fast break by Joe Ingles (7) of Australia after he stole the ball away, in basketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Patty Mills (5) of Australia, tries to get the ball past Stefan Jovic (24) of Serbia and Nikola Kalinic (10) of Serbiabasketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Patty Mills (5) of Australia, tries to get the ball past Stefan Jovic (24) of Serbia add ss10/basketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Vladimir Stimac (15) of Serbia reacts after dunking the ball in the final seconds of the game, in basketball action, Australia vs. Serbia, at Carioca arena, in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, August 19, 2016.

By Kurt Kragthorpe The Salt Lake Tribune

· August 19, 2016 7:34 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Rio de Janeiro • Australia started poorly and never recovered in an 87-61 loss to Serbia in the semifinals of the Olympic men's basketball tournament Friday night.

The Boomers fell behind 16-5 after the first quarter and 35-14 at halftime, having made 6 of 29 shots from the field and committed 11 turnovers.

Australia will meet Spain for the bronze medal Sunday.

The Aussies had shot 51.7 percent and averaged 89 points through six games of the tournament — including a 95-80 win over Serbia in group play. But Serbia dominated this game from the start, scoring the first eight points and never being challenged.

The Jazz's Joe Ingles scored 12 points and former University of Utah star Andrew Bogut added four points and one rebound for Australia.

This story will be updated.