The Guy Molloy-led Australian team defeated reigning European champion Croatia 83-71 in a semi-final overnight.

Molloy, the Ballarat Miners head coach, is coaching the Australians with Geelong Supercats head coach Jamie O'Loughlin as his assistant.

They were reported to be watching a live statistics stream of the Miners and Supercats' clash play out in the South East Australian Basketball League before preparations for the Australians' semi-final in Lithuania. The Supercats won by nine points at the Minerdome.

Australia's clash with Croatia was a rollercoaster.

Croatia scored the first six points of the game but Australia clawed back to claim a 16-10 lead, only for Croatia to fight back and take a three-point lead into quarter-time.

The Croatians pulled away in the second quarter before Australian Mirko Djeric dropped three three-pointers amid a 14-0 run to claim the lead.

Australia surged ahead, then Croatia bit back.

Two break-away baskets helped Australia to a 19-point lead early in the fourth but Croatia twice cut the deficit to seven points.

A Jack Purchase three-pointer pushed Australia's lead to 12 with 59 seconds on the clock and decided the game.

Djeric led the Aussies with 21 points and nine assists, while Dante Exum added 18 points and Purchase 12.

The US defeated Spain 95-66 to advance to the final, leaving the Spanish to face Croatia in the bronze medal game.