Aussies finish 3rd in Group A
Australia secured third place in Group A with a convincing win over Angola in the 2010 FIBA World Championships in Turkey.
The Oceania champions overcame a slow start to dump their African counterparts, 76-55, in their final group assignment in Kayseri.
Back-to-back treys from Miguel Lutonda and Joaquim Gomes gave the Angolans an early 6-2 lead. The Africans led by as many as five points as they closed out the period with an 18-15 lead and Gomes led the Angolans with six points.
Angola continued to wax hot in the second period, extending their lead to seven points after back-to-back baskets by Felizardo Ambrosio and Leonel Paulo. However, it proved to be the Africans' last hurrah as the Australians took over, with an 11-0 run allowing the Australians to take a 26-22 lead with 4:19 left in the quarter. The Boomers extended their lead to 39-27 before Lutonda reduced it by ten points at the break. Patrick Mills and Matt Nielsen combined for 10 points as the Australians outscored the Angolans with 24-11.
The Australians remained offensive-minded after the break. This time, they were led by Adam Gibson, who nailed two treys to lead a 9-0 run that put the Boomers ahead, 47-33. The Australians closed out the period with a 12-0 run, extending the lead to 60-38 after three quarters. While the Australians waxed hot, it was the opposite for the Angolans, who were held to only nine points.
Brett Brown's wards led by as many as 24 points in the fourth quarter en route to their third win in five games. Mills, who plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, led the Australians with eleven points, three assists and three rebounds. Nielsen also had an outstanding all-around performance of nine points, seven rebounds and six assists. Brad Newley had eight points and seven rebounds while Joe Ingles had the same number of points and five boards. David Barlow and Mark Worthington also played significant minutes, contributing eight points each. The Australians hardly missed the absence of Toronto Raptors forward David Andersen, who was sidelined with a stomach virus. Lutonda and Vladimir Ricardino were the top performers for Angola with nine points each, and Gomes finished with eight points and five rebounds. The Angolans missed the services of veteran guard Olimpio Cipriano due to a leg injury.
Australia will play Slovenia in the last 16 on Sunday while Angola will take on the United States on Monday.
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