ZARAGOZA (2016 FIBA U17 World Championship) - Hosts Spain gained the inside track for first place in Group B of the 2016 FIBA U17 World Championship by beating Lithuania in a tight battle while debutants Mali picked up a first-ever victory in the competition and reigning champions USA cruised to another comfortable win. 

Miguel Gonzalez scored 19 points and Sergi Martinez collected 16 points and 16 rebounds as Spain came back to beat Lithuania 65-61. Lithuania, who got 12 points from Lukas Uleckas, led by 14 points in the second quarter but could not hold the lead.  Down two with 4.6 seconds left, Lithuania turned the ball over on an in-bounds play when Arnas Velicka stepped on the line.

Spain improved to 2-0 in Group B while Lithuania dropped to 1-1.

Even with Lithuania at 1-1 in the group are Mali, who got 13 points from Lassana Haidara and Abdoul Karim Coulibaly added 8 points and 14 rebounds in a 56-47 victory - the country's first ever in the competition. Lautaro Lopez's 18 points, 12 rebounds and 5 steals were not enough for winless Argentina. 

Group A saw two blowouts as three-time reigning champions USA blasted Turkey 84-66 with Collin Sexton pacing the Americans with 20 points while Carte'Are Gordon and Markus Howard both scored 12 points and Wendell Carter Jr. chipped in 9 points and 14 rebounds. Onuralp Bitim led Turkey with 13 points. 

While USA moved to 2-0, Turkey dropped to 1-1 - the same mark as Egypt, who rolled by winless Chinese Taipei 88-71 thanks to points/rebounds double-doubles from Abdelrahman Abdelmaged (16/11), Ahmed Khalaf (11/16) and Esam Mostafa (15/13). Lin Ting-Chien did all he could for Chinese Taipei with 30 points, 6 rebounds and 7 steals. 

For more on all of today's action, you can also go to the FIBA live feed.

Friday's results
Mali beat Argentina 56-47
Spain beat Lithuania 65-61
Egypt beat Chinese Taipei 88-71
United States beat Turkey 84-66

FIBA