LUANDA (Angola) - No team will make it to the second round of the World Cup African qualifiers without losing at least one game. This follows Angola's 88-74 victory over Mali on Sunday.
Mali had been the only team with a perfect win-loss record after five games, but Angola bounced back from their 79-73 loss to Egypt the previous day with an aggressive and spirited performance.
Mali topped Group D with a 5-1 record, while Angola finished second with 4 wins and 2 losses. Egypt got away with a 3-3 record.
Childe Dundao and Selton Miguel scored half of Angola's 88 points, finishing with a combined total of 44.
Angola's aggressive defence forced Mali to turn the ball over an astonishing 27 times, while Mali's poor free-throw shooting (13 out of 27) made things extremely difficult for a team looking to remain undefeated.
Siriman Kanoute, who had averaged 21 points in the previous five games, was limited to 10 before fouling out later in the fourth quarter.
Aliou Diarra, who returned after missing the teams' previous meeting in February, led Mali with 18 points and seven rebounds.
FIBA