France stay unbeaten
France survived a tough challenge from Canada to notch their third win in as many games. The French relied on their steady free throw shooting in the crucial stages to beat the Canadians, 68-63, in their Group D encounter in Izmir.
Free throws caused the downfall of the Canadians, who converted only three of their six attempts in the final five minutes. In contrast, the French hit all of their eight free throw attempts.
It was a close game from the opening buzzer. Canada raced to an early 8-3 lead after Levon Kendall scored five straight points. The North Americans held on to their advantage until France unleashed a 6-2 run in the final minute to tie the score at 15-15. The two teams remained aggressive in the second quarter, playing tough defence and battling tooth-and-nail for the ball. The result was a 13-13 quarter, thus, a 28-28 half-time deadlock.
The two teams continued to play well in the third. France twice led by four points but Canada quickly recovered. Back-to-back baskets by Jevohn Shepherd and Kendall allowed Canada to take a 48-45 lead with 26 seconds remaining. The Canadians entered the fourth with a 48-46 advantage.
Canada started the final quarter with four straight points to extend their lead to 52-46. But the French quickly came back behind the efforts of Ali Traore and Nicolas Batum to tie the scores at 52-52.
Denham Brown gave Canada a 60-59 lead with 2:45 left in the game but Boris Diaw responded with a trey to put the French ahead, 62-60, at the 1:54 mark. The Canadians had a chance to tie the scores but Joel Anthony only converted one of his two free throws. Mickael Gelabale made two free throws on the other end to extend France's lead to 64-61. Canada had four opportunities to equalise but Jermaine Anderson and Kendall missed two three-point attempts each. Anderson made two free throws moments later to put Canada within 63-64 but Gelabale remained steady at the free throw line to restore France's three-point advantage with 18 seconds left. The Canadians failed to convert on their next possession and fouled Batum, who made both his free throws to settle the score lines.
Batum led France with 24 points and seven rebounds. Kendall finished with 15 points to lead the winless Canadians.
France will shoot for their fourth-straight win when they face Lithuania tomorrow. The French previously beat defending champions Spain, 72-66, and Lebanon, 86-59. Canada will next meet New Zealand. The Canadians lost to Lebanon, 71-81, on opening day and to Lithuania, 68-70, on Sunday.
Tags: