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NOVI SAD (FIBA U19 World Championship) - The USA produced a fourth-quarter rally to edge France to a place in the FIBA U19 World Championship final.

The French had led 59-53 at the end of the third quarter and must have considered themselves favourites to go through to a final with hosts Serbia.

The hero for the USA was Deon Thompson who top scored with 18 points and also hauled down 13 rebounds for the winners.

Thompson was nine from 12 with all his shots coming from two-point range while Raymar Morgan and Patrick Beverley each added 13.

Michael Beasley also contributed a double digit haul for the Americans with 11.

The French had been quick out of the blocks and had raced out to a 19-12 first-quarter lead. The second quarter was level and the Americans only managed to trim one point from the lead in the third.

However, they pulled off the win in the final quarter and only took the lead with two minutes and a half to play to go 74-73 ahead.

Antoine Diot missed with a potentially game-tying attempt at a three-pointer in the closing seconds.

France were eliminated despite 18 points from Nicolas Batum. Equally impressive for the French was Adrien Moerman who added 12 rebounds to his 17 points.

France must next play Brazil for third place while Serbia are the opponents in the final for the Americans.

Jeanne Laporte
FIBA