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Turkey’s late surge stuns Australia at WCup

By WTOP Staff

JOSEPH WILSON
Associated Press

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Turkey forward Emir Preldzic made his second of two last-minute 3-pointers only 5 seconds from the finish to stun Australia 65-64 at the Basketball World Cup on Sunday, sending the reigning silver medalists into the quarterfinals.

Turkey will play Lithuania on Tuesday at the Palau Sant Jordi after Jonas Valanciunas scored eight of his 22 points in the fourth quarter as Lithuania held on to beat New Zealand 76-71.

In Madrid, Neto scored 21 points as Brazil exploded in the second half to rout Argentina 85-65 in what became a lopsided battle of South American rivals.

Serbia awaits Brazil on Wednesday after guard Bogdan Bogdanovic made four 3-pointers and scored 21 points to help eliminate Greece 90-72.

Australia was winning by five points with a minute to go when Preldzic struck from long range. And after Australia lost the ball for a shot clock violation, Preldzic let the final seconds wind down before unleashing another 3-pointer under duress to snatch the win in dramatic fashion.

Preldzic and guard Sinan Guler had 16 points each to lead the Turks. San Antonio Spur forward Aron Baynes scored 15 for Australia, which had been up by 12 points in the third period.

“We found Preldzic and Preldzic found incredible shots,” said Turkey coach Ergin Ataman. “Of course that last shot was lucky for us. Sorry to Australia. Today I think they played better than us, but basketball is like this.”

Argentina’s Pablo Prigioni scored 15 of his 18 points in the first half to pace it to a 36-33 advantage.

But the second half was all Brazil, which went on two identical 18-6 bursts to start both the third and the fourth quarters to run out to a 20-point lead with under five minutes to go.

Brazil’s three NBA centers– Varejao, Nene and Tiago Splitter– limited Argentina’s Luis Scola to nine points, and Brazil’s shooters picked Argentina apart.

Marquinhos Vieira added 13 points for Brazil, while Splitter and Barbosa chipped in with 10 each.

Greece needed a wild card invitation to compete in Spain, but it had appeared to re-establish its credentials as a perennial medal contender by winning all five games to claim first place in its group to reach this first knockout round.

But Serbia led throughout except when Greece managed to edge ahead by a point late in the second quarter, and the Greeks imploded in the fourth period, falling behind by as much as 20.

Milwaukee Bucks center Miroslav Raduljica added 16 points for the Serbs, while Milos Teodosic scored 13. Guard Nick Calathes had 14 points for Greece.

The first half between the two traditional European powers did not disappoint.

Both moved the ball with precision and shot high percentages of almost 60 percent from 2-point range in an impressive 20 minutes of basketball.

After drawing level several times, Nikos Zsis hit a 3-pointer to put Greece ahead for the first and only time with 1:02 left in the second period.

Serbia reclaimed the initiative immediately when Raduljica scored inside and Nikola Kalinic drove baseline to slam the ball and pick up a foul, letting him convert the 3-point play for a 46-42 lead at halftime.

Serbia then dominated the second half, turning what had been an evenly matched contest into an easy win.

Back in Barcelona, Lithuania lined up to observe the Tall Blacks’ ceremonial “haka,” and then went to work overpowering New Zealand with its taller inside players.

But guard Corey Webster, who finished with 26 points, spurred New Zealand’s rally from 15 points down to take a one-point lead when Lithuania went scoreless for the first four minutes of the fourth quarter.

Valanciunas answered by making four free throws and two inside baskets for the reigning bronze medalists. The Toronto Raptors center also pulled in 13 rebounds and blocked three shots, while guard Martynas Pocius chipped in with 11 points.

“Jonas played really well and that’s what we expected,” said Lithuania coach Jonas Kazlauskas. “He has gotten stronger and has more experience. Now he respects his opponents even more and knows the price of every game.”

In other quarterfinals, the United States plays Slovenia in Barcelona on Tuesday, and Spain faces France in Madrid on Wednesday.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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