The Boomers have suffered a heart-breaking one-point loss to Turkey to crash out of the basketball World Cup in Barcelona.
The Australian team, which was hoping to win a first-ever medal, led for most of the match but will rue Cameron Bairstow running foul of the clock shot with just 22 seconds left when leading 64-62.
Turkey’s Emir Preldzic then calmly ran down the clock at the other end of the court before downing a three-pointer over Bairstow to steal the match 65-64.
The Australians looked on in disbelief as the Turks celebrated.
The Boomers had lost to Angola in their last group match meaning they could avoid playing the United States until the semi-finals.
But such a scenario became irrelevant after Turkey delivered yet another come-from-behind thriller.
Earlier, Matthew Dellavedova started proceedings well for Australia by downing a three-pointer that should have calmed any nerves.
But the Boomers were surprisingly sloppy.
Turkey couldn’t capitalise, however, and the Australians settled following another three-pointer by Ryan Broekhoff.
Mid-way through the first term, with Australia leading 10-9, there was a 15 minute delay when the shot clock failed.
That followed a 15 minute delay to the start of the match.
Young gun Dante Exum came on and immediately showed why he was the No.5 NBA draft pick and after Aron Baynes dunked at the end of the term Australia went into the break 18-15 up.
In the second quarter, Baynes and Joe Ingles, who’d been brilliant during the group matches, couldn’t find their rhythm.
But Turkey missed too many shots – averaging just 41 per cent from the field in the first half – and Australia dominated the rebounds 23-13.
Nevertheless the world’s seventh-ranked side hit the front for the first time with two minutes remaining before a late basket by Brock Motum helped the Boomers entered the long break 35-34 in front.
Turkey’s Sinan Guler led the scoring with 12 points while Australia’s main contributor was Chicago Bulls draftee Bairstow with six.
In the third quarter Australia showed the class that saw them defeat world No.4 Lithuania last week.
Ingles found his feet, making a steal and bucket, some two minutes in.
That sparked a run from the Boomers that included a three-point jump shot from Dellavedova, another two-pointer from Ingles and a dunk by Baynes.
Suddenly Australia were 48-36 in front.
However, a number of missed free throws from Brad Newley and Dellavedova allowed Turkey to stay in touch and they slowly claw their way back.
After a late three-pointer by Preldzic, Turkey was within four at the final break, with the Boomers leading 50-46.
The Aussies couldn’t break free in the final term despite Baynes and Ingles dominating early.
Players again wasted too many opportunities from the free throw line.
Veteran David Anderson was fouled out of the game with two minutes to go meaning Bairstow, who had been one of the Boomers best previously, was back in.
But with just 22 seconds remaining the 23-year-old failed to get what could have been the match-winning shot away.
The rest was pure heartbreak.
The Boomers shot just 53 per cent from the free throw line and 27 per cent from beyond the perimeter.
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