BRA/AUS - De Freitas edges thriller for Brazil
NOVI SAD (FIBA U19 World Championship) - Caue de Freitas came off the bench to sink five points in the final minute and snatch Brazil a thrilling 73-72 win over Australia on Friday. After leading for much of the game, the South Americans were pegged back in the final quarter but edged victory to take them through to the FIBA U19 World Championship semi-final.
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NOVI SAD (FIBA U19 World Championship) - Caue de Freitas came off the bench to sink five points in the final minute and snatch Brazil a thrilling 73-72 win over Australia on Friday.
After leading for much of the game, the South Americans were pegged back in the final quarter but edged victory to take them through to the FIBA U19 World Championship semi-final.
Australia's fate could have been much different had they not once again been guilty of excessive turnovers.
Having turned the ball over 24 times in the eighth-final win over Argentina, they surpassed that with 27 against another South American opponent and this time
they didn't get away with it as Brazil punished them.
The previously-undefeated Aussies had started strongly, with Pat Mills taking over from Andrew Oglivey in the scoring vein as he poured in 10 points in the opening five minutes.
This helped his side to a 19-14 lead at the first break, but a Paulao Prestes lay-up and Mineiro de Souza's three-pointer brought Brazil level and then a 6-0 scoring burst gave them a 27-21 lead.
Though they were never out of sight, the South Americans had a lead of 12 points at the midway stage.
Oglivey sunk eight points in the third period to bring his side to 55-52 on his way to another impressive personal tally of 22.
Australia outscored Brazil 6-2 at the start of the final period to edge back into a one-point lead and the advantage swung from one side to the other in the final minutes.
The Antipodeans edged four points clear with 1:57 on the clock but that was the cue for Brazil to throw on De Freitas, and he immediately poured in a lay-up and a free throw to help his side edge a point in front with 18 seconds left.
Oglivey sunk a lay-up to swing the advantage back to Australia but De Freitas struck again to clinch the win in the dying seconds.
Betinho Duarte and Paulao Prestes were crucial to the victory as the former racked up a game-high points total of 23, while the latter hit a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds.
It was Australia's first defeat of the tournament, meaning they exit on 6-1, while Brazil are through despite a 4-3 record.
FIBA