AUSTRALIA poured in 33 fourth quarter points beat Serbia 95 – 80 in the early hours of Tuesday morning, creating Olympic history along the way.
It is the first time the Boomers have won their opening two Olympic matches, the feat made ever more impressive by the fact those victories have come against highly fancied European powerhouses.
Melville resident Damian Martin played no part in a game that was dominated by fellow guards Matthew Dellavedova and Patty Mills.
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The NBA duo combined for 49 points but it was Dellavedova who carried the load, adding 13 assists to his personal 23-point tally and firing up late in the game to give Australia the boost it needed to topple the sixth-ranked Serbs.
Former Perth Wildcat Kevin Lisch was the only other true guard utilised by Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis, with Joe Ingles filling a wing role when required.
Australia started well to establish an early lead but conceded 10 fouls in the second quarter to allow Serbia to wrestle its way back into the match and take a slim 43-40 lead into half-time.
The sides went practically basket for basket in the third term, the Boomers letting themselves down with a number of turnovers that helped Serbia, outstanding in transition all game, keep itself in the contest.
Trailing by one entering the fourth quarter Australia needed a big final term and Dellavedova delivered, draining an early triple before finding big man Andrew Bogut for consecutive alley-oops to send the Boomers on their way.
Australia was never seriously challenged from there.
The victory puts Australia in the box seat to finish second in Group A, which would mean it enters the quarter finals on the opposite side of the draw to the all-conquering Americans.
The Boomers test themselves against the US in their next game at 6am on Thursday morning.