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Great Britain crashed out of EuroBasket following a heavy 77-59 defeat to Serbia in Warsaw.

Despite pushing world champions Spain close 24 hours earlier, Chris Finch's side were outclassed in their final group game - a match they had to win to advance to the knockout stages.

However, this was always a difficult group for a team making their first appearance at this level in nearly three decades.

And the absence of NBA stars Luol Deng, who is recovering from injury, and Ben Gordon - who elected to miss the tournament to focus on his new club the Detroit Pistons - certainly conspired against Finch.

Houston Rockets forward-centre Pops Mensah-Bonsu and others stepped up and underlined the future promise of the youngest team in Poland.

But they will leave knowing they had chances to progress only for a lack of experience to cost them at crucial moments, meaning they will also need to rely on a wildcard place for next year's World Championships in Turkey.

"I thought they were the better team on the day, their experience and determination was clear, certainly," said Finch.

"I think they played exactly as we thought; they were very physical and I think that we were a bit bothered by that, it got us out of our rhythm. I wish it could've been a bit of a tighter game; again we just didn't seem to have the answers.

"I think we're not a million miles away certainly. We are missing some key personnel that would make the difference, but it's more than that.

"I compare it to becoming a better golfer; the closer you get to scratch the harder it is to shave those strokes off your game and that's the area we are now getting into. It's the little things we have to do better on and off the floor, as professionals and as a programme."

Nate Reinking top scored with 21 points while Mensah-Bonsu netted 16 and Rob Archibald banked nine.

Oklahoma Thunder's Nenad Krstic was the top scorer for Serbia with a 17-point haul.

In the other group C fixture, pre-tournament favourites Spain needed overtime to beat Slovenia 90-84, Rudy Fernandez impressing with a 19-point haul.

And head coach Sergio Scariolo admitted his out of sorts side - silver medallists at last year's Olympics - were also out of shape.

"When you have really bad physical condition, in the fourth quarter you lose intensity, concentration," he said.

"According to the improvement of our physical condition, we will be able to improve. Hopefully we will improve enough to have 40 or 50 minutes in peak condition."

More Than The Games / Eurosport