Guard and captain Matt Dellavedova shot Australia to their sixth straight win, this time over Croatia, at the FIBA Under-19 World Championship at the North Shore Events Centre last night.
Dellavedova scored nine of his team-high 17 points in the final two minutes and 15 in the fourth quarter asthe Australians held on against fellow unbeaten side Croatia, buoyed on by a loud red-and-white chequered fan base.
Australia topped group F of the second-round stage with the win, as Dellavedova connected on three treys in the final period.
Tomislav Zubcic, who hit four threes, shared the Croatians top score with 14 points, while the dogged Australian defence held Croatian captain Mario Delas, the tournament's second-leading scorer, to just seven points on six field-goal attempts.
Also in Group F Canada beat Argentina 67-57 to book their place in the quarter-finals.
Canada took over in the third period, winning 18-11.
Spain surged to a 101-71 win over Kazakhstan, the Junior Tall Blacks' nemesis, but missed out on the last eight when Canada toppled Argentina.
In Group E, Greece withstood a furious French fourth quarter comeback as they held on for a 76-72 win at ASB Stadium.
France outscored Greece 32-16 in the final period but left their run too late.
Puerto Rico shot 55 per cent from long range as they took care of Egypt 99-71 to advance to the quarters.
