AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- The United States beat Canada 93-73 on Friday to set up a semifinal clash with Croatia at the world junior basketball championships, while Greece upset top-ranked Argentina to gain a semifinal against unbeaten Australia.
Australia defeated France 79-73, stretching its winning streak at the tournament to seven games, as did the United States in outclassing Canada. Greece beat Argentina 86-60 while Croatia defeated Puerto Rico 91-78.
Gordon Hayward was the top scorer for the United States with 20 points, including seven of 12 from the field and four of five from three-point range as it led Canada at all intervals, taking charge of the game in a 51-36 first half.
Seth Curry and Howard Thompkins III both made 12 points while Arnett Moultrie hauled down 11 rebounds, including six offensive boards, at the heart of a robust U.S. defense.
Tristan Thompson led Canada with 18 points and eight rebounds.
Australia got outstanding individual performances from Jason Cadee and Jorden Page to beat France, which led with less than five minutes remaining.
Australia was on the brink of elimination when Page nailed five points in 42 seconds to reclaim the lead. Matthew Dellavedova hit a crucial shot from the perimeter to fill out an 18-point game and Cody Ellis (14 points, 10 rebounds) also hit a long three to give Australia a cushion.
"[France] are a good side so we knew would have to dig in on defense to get some stops, which we did, and we got it done in the last," Australia captain Dellavedova said. "If you give them an inch and they're open from the three-point line they're not going to miss, so it's tough trying to close them out."
Croatia's Tomislav Zubcic hit seven straight points in the last quarter, finishing with 27, in the win over Puerto Rico, their sixth from seven games.
Puerto Rico pulled back the margin with a 24-19 third quarter, led again by Mike Rosario who finished with 25 points and seven rebounds.
Croatia jumped to a 54-33 lead immediately after halftime before an 11-0 run brought Puerto Rico within 10 points. Back-to-back threes from Jio Fontan, who finished with 20 points, cut the lead to 64-57 at three-quarter time.
Rosario continued to press the comeback and brought Puerto Rico within two points, 66-64 with 7 minutes, 48 remaining, but Zubcic settled the issue with seven points in a 75-second burst.
Greece relied on strong interior defense to withstand Argentina, which entered the tournament as top seed. The Greek defense limited Argentina to long and low percentage shots and it finished with 21 turnovers and only 32 percent from the field.
Argentina coach Enrique Tocachier gave his tournament top scorer, Matias Nocedal, only 16 minutes on court in which he scored nine points and playmaker Juan Fernandez 13 minutes for four points.
Greece led 25-17 after the first quarter and 41-32 at halftime, then suffocated Argentina in an 18-10 third quarter. A 27-18 last period put the seal on the match for Greece, for whom Leonidas Kaselakias scored 20 points, including eight of 13 from the field.
The semifinal winners will play Sunday in the final.
