Kusturica Leads Serbia Past Turkey in U17 World Cup Thriller
Nikola Kusturica delivered a 25-point, 5-rebound, 3-steal effort to steer Serbia to a hard-fought 76-71 win against Türkiye at the FIBA U17 World Cup.
In a fiercely contested battle at the BDC Main Venue, Serbia managed to hold off a second-half surge from Türkiye. The Serbians entered halftime with an eight-point lead (32-40), but Türkiye clawed back, reducing the deficit to just one point entering the final period (54-55).
Türkiye, who shot 35% from the field (24/68) and a meagre 26% from three-point range (9/35), saw Omer Kutluay star with 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists, alongside Besir Briant's 17 points. However, Serbia, more efficient at 43% shooting (26/61), benefited from Matija Lukic's 20 points and Darius Karutasu's double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds for Türkiye, though it ultimately fell short.
Despite a back-and-forth affair where both sides showcased grit, Serbia found a way to prevail in the crucial final moments, securing the win through superior execution and a 18-14 assist advantage. This victory provides significant momentum for Serbia within the tournament.