Game Summary

Turning point: Erazem Lorbek hit a three-pointer from the top of the key early in the third quarter to put Slovenia up by 17, 47-30, and at the other end, Primoz Brezec swatted away Stefan Markovics lay-up attempt to let Serbia know it just wasnt going to be their day.

Hero: Bostjan Nachbar made big buckets time and time again to end Serbias several attempts to rally back. Whenever Duzan Ivkovics men came too close, you could count on the swingman to hit a clutch basket.

Stats: 33 that was Serbias shooting percentage as they scored only 29 points in the first half. They made just eight of 22 attempts from two-point range and three of 11 from beyond the arc.

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Slovenia used a three-point barrage to take a 13-3 lead and never looked back as they cruised past Serbia 80-69 in EuroBasket Group C.

Jaka Lakovic buried two three-pointers and Bostjan Nachbar knocked the other one - despite being defended closely - to set the tone as Slovenia took their first double-digit lead just three minutes into the game.

A day after beating the defending world champions Head Coach Dusan Ivkovic and Serbia could not figure out Slovenia.

That pretty much set the tone for what was to come the rest of the way as Jure Zdovc's side never trailed and led by as many as 18. The win saw them remain undefeated (2-0).

"This is a great result for us as it means we are pretty much assured of advancing to the next round" said Nachbar, who finished with a game-high 17 points and proved to the hero, hitting big buckets time and time again to end Serbia's several rally attempts.

"We knocked our shots and I think on defense we did a very good job of taking them out of their comfort zone. We made them work hard for everything they got."

The win was made that much sweeter as captain Matjaz Smodis, who missed the opener against Britain because of back and knee injuries, made his return to the line-up.

He checked into the game in place of Erazem Lorbek with 4:17 left in the third quarter, much to the delight of Slovenia's contingent of fans. He finished with four points, all on free-throws.

"It was great to have him back. He is such a great player and a leader for this team. We're happy to see back out on the court," Nachbar added.

Serbia got within 18-15 when Milos Teodosic and Kosta Perovic ran the pick and roll to perfection, the latter catching the lob and making the basket plus the free-throw with 2:44 left in the first period.

That would be as close as they would get though as Nachbar and substitute Samo Udrih scored the next four points for a 22-15 advantage heading into the second quarter.

Goran Dragic took over at that point, scoring eight of his 10 first-half points to help Slovenia go up 31-17 with just under six minutes left before the break.

The back-up guard hit a long three-pointer and then knocked the ball out of Milan Macvan's hands near midcourt, before going in for an uncontested lay-up. He later used his quickness to knife his way into the defense for another deuce.

Serbia, perhaps still suffering from the effects of their big win over Spain on Monday, couldn't get their shots to fall and scored only two points in the first 3:40 of the second quarter.

They closed to within 35-27 when Uros Tripkovic hit from beyond the arc and Nemanja Bjelica outjumped the whole of Slovenia's defense for a putback and a free-throw.

But Slovenia did not relent as Jaka Lakovic and Nachbar knocked down jumpers to re-establish a 10-point cushion, 39-29, at the intermission.

Serbia made just 11 of their 33 field goal attempts over the first two quarters. In comparison, Slovenia shot 60 per cent (15 of 25 overall, including six of 12 from three-point range).

The second half was pretty much a formality. Primoz Brezec scored his first points of the game on a lay-up before Nachbar and Erazem Lorbek connected from downtown for a 47-30 lead.

Serbia trailed 60-44 at the start of the final period and got within 11, 68-57, on Nemanja Bjelica's three-pointer with about five minutes left to play, but at the other end Nachbar blew past him for an uncontested dunk.

Erazem Lorbek and Dragic sealed the game from the free-throw line.

Afterwards, Serbia head coach Duzan Ivkovic conceded his team were outplayed.

"I think the Slovenian team was better. For sure, they deserved this victory. I think we weren't prepared. After yesterday, our rhythm wasn't there. Slovenia controlled the game better," he conceded.

"Their field goal percentage was very high in the first half and at the end of the game."

Dusan Ivkovic (Serbia Coach):

"I want to congratulate our opponents, they were a better team and they deserve a victory. We maybe weren't prepared well after such a tough game last night against Spain. We didn't play that kind of defense like yesterday and with our young team, we struggled after Krstic got two early fouls. Without him we didn't have the right balance inside."

Novica Velickovic (Serbia Forward):

"Slovenia played much better than us, we didn't prepare well after yesterday's game. Now we have to concentrate on tomorrow's match, we don't have time to think about today's loss."

Jure Zdovc (Coach of Slovenia):

"I think we won because of two things. We wanted to win more than our opponents, and they had a very tough game last night. The third factor was our fans. The crowd helped us to win and helped us to give 120% today."

Erazem Lorbek (Slovenia Center):

"I am very happy after this win against very talented Serbian team. It was not easy, but we played even better then yesterday and had some great defensive stops during the match."

Serbia's aim before the EuroBasket was to claim a top-six finish in order to qualify for the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

After Monday's 66-57 upset win against Spain, the Blues might want to set the bar even higher.

Serbia were awesome against Spain.

Dusan Ivkovic's team made life hell for the world champions, contesting every shot and beating Spain to many a loose ball.

When the contest was over, Serbia had come up with 12 steals.

The squad is full of youngsters, yet there was no intimidation against a Spain side that is full of international superstars like Juan Carlos Navarro, Pau Gasol and Ricky Rubio.

In Serbia, there is an old joke that has no doubt been used to describe the success of the young Serbia team on Monday.

It goes like this.

Police enter the house of a thief and find hundreds of railroad ties. When they ask the owner of the home where he got them from, he answers: "The children brought them."

The police respond: "For God's sake, how did the children carry 100 kilograms!?"

The man says simply: "What does a child know about 100 kilos ...?"

Slovenia,  meanwhile, will be breathing a sigh of relief after overcoming the injury-forced absences of Matjaz Smodis and Uros Slokar to defeat Great Britain, 72-59.

Erazem Lorbek, plagued by foul trouble in the first half, ended up scoring a game-high 19 points.

If Slovenia had to contend with the impressive frontline of Great Britain, they will encounter a different style against the Serbs whose strength is their quickness and depth.

Last Time Out: Slovenia defeated Great Britain 72-59 and Serbia upset Spain 66-57.

Key Match-up: Goran Dragic v Milos Teodosic. Phoenix Suns reserve Dragic struggled against Team GB but will be one of the quickest players on the floor while Teodosic is coming off a strong game against Spain in which he virtually shut down Rubio.

X-Factor: Goran Jagodnik. The Slovenia veteran has played in the Serbian league and is familiar with many of Tuesday's opponents. He had two big three-pointers in the second half to help fire his team to victory.

Key Stat: Monday's triumph over Spain was Serbia boss Ivkovic's 19th win in as many EuroBasket games as a coach. He won two titles as the coach of the former 'big' Yugoslavia, when the team still had all of the republics including Croatia. In 1995, he also led a 'small' Yugoslavia to the European title when the squad consisted of players from Serbia and Montenegro.

Sounding Off: "This tournament is long so we won't get carried away" - Ivkovic discusses the mindset of his team after the win over Spain