Spain withstand fight from Egypt to reach Quarter-Finals
HERAKLION (2015 FIBA U19 World Championship) - Spain were challenged in the first half but pulled away and then held off Egypt for a 67-60 victory in the Round of 16 at the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship
HERAKLION (2015 FIBA U19 World Championship) - Spain were challenged in the first half but pulled away and then held off Egypt for a 67-60 victory in the Round of 16 at the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship. Spain moved into the Quarter-Finals where they will take on the winner between Greece and Tunisia. Egypt will square off against the loser of the Greece-Tunisia game in the Classification 9-16 round.
Turning Point: Spain watched Mohamed Taha Ibrahim Mohamed score seven straight points to cut a 12-point lead down to 63-58. But Jacobo Diaz rebounded a missed Spain free throw and Marc Garcia scored to make it 66-58 with 45 seconds to play.
Stats Don't Lie: Spain held Egypt to just 20 percent shooting from three-point range and won the rebounding battle 51-43 with 27 offensive rebounds. Spain also got 34 points off the bench compared to just 20 for Egypt.
Game Hero: Garcia collected 21 points, three rebounds, three steals, two assists and one block.
The Bottom Line: Spain advanced to the Quarter-Finals for the third time in the last five editions of the tournament but they have not reached the Semi-Finals since winning the title in 1999.
FIBA