A Serb basketball player has pleaded guilty to beating an American student into a coma. The plea was part of a plea bargain under which Miladin Kovacevic is expected to serve about two years in prison in his homeland.

Under the agreement, Kovacevic, 23, could be sentenced to two years and three months for the beating of Bryan Steinhauer in May 2008 near Binghamton University in upstate New York. Three months of that has been served already in the U.S. and Serbia.

The Obama administration says it is disappointed with the plea deal. The case strained relations between Serbia and the United States.

The First Municipal Court in Belgrade said Monday it will mail its final ruling to Kovacevic. It did not say when.