By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The French national team has already endured the shock of premature elimination from the second phase of the FIBA World Cup and almost got beaten by Lebanon.
In the end, France survived and got the 85-79 win. They still have to play two more classification games in Jakarta, Indonesia, before heading back home.
The score was all tied at 65, just six minutes before the end of the game. However, a 9-0 run by France which was completed with a dunk by Okobo (72-65) gave the 2019 World Cup finalists some important breathing room.
Still entering the last minute, after two free throws by Wael Arakji, France’s lead was just three points (72-69).
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Nicols Batum with a three (75-69) with just 32 seconds left sealed the deal and France finally prevailed.
France was playing without centers, since Rudy Gobert, Moustapha Fall, and Mathias Lessort have been sidelined.
Guerschon Yabusele with 18 points and Evan Fournier with 17 were the top scorers of the French team.
From Lebanon, Arakji had an amazing scoring performance with 29 points on 11/17 FG, but it was not enough for a victory that would have been historic for Lebanese basketball.
PHOTO CREDIT: FIBA