FIBA U19M - Balanced Lithuania take bronze in OT over Australia

PRAGUE (FIBA U19 World Championship) - Five players scored in double figures as Lithuania beat Australia 106-100 in overtime to take the bronze medal at the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship.

Tomas Dimsa led the way for Lithuania with 19 points while Marius Grigoris had 17, Lukas Lekavicius 16 and Justas Tamulis and Martinas Geben both 12 points.

Lithuania added a bronze medal to the silver they won in 2003 and gold from 2011 with Jonas Valanciunas taking MVP honors.

"It's amazing. It's great to have (a medal) like Valanciunas. We did our job and won," said Dimsa, who missed Lithuania's run to silver at the U18 European Championship last summer due to injury.

"I'm so happy that I am here. We won the bronze medal. It's amazing. I don't know what more to say."

Dante Exum scored 28 points but made just six of 13 free-throws, while Dane Pineau collected 20 points, 17 rebounds, three assists and three steals.

The game was close in the first quarter with Lithuania only able to open a five-point lead and the Europeans were up 21-18 after one quarter.

Lithuania used a 15-3 run to start the second quarter and build a 38-21 cushion. A 9-0 Australian answer made it an eight-point game and Lithuania were ahead 42-34 at the break.

Grigonis' three-point play started the second half to restore an 11-point margin. But Australia responded with a 23-3 run to build a 57-48 lead. Lithuania, who went more than six minutes without a basket, were down 62-56 after three quarters.

Duncan and Felix Kalau von Hofe nailed triples to extend the Australian lead to 68-60 with seven minutes to play. Grigonis and Dimsa both nailed two three-pointers - the latter's second being converted to a four-point play - to put Lithuania ahead 74-73.

Dimsa however made just three of six foul shots in the final 1:46 and Exum went two for four from the line as the teams were deadlocked 85-85 at regulation.

In the extra frame, Dimsa tipped in a missed free-throw, nailed a triple and hit a driving lay-up to help open a 97-90 lead with 1:38 remaining.

Grigonis made six of eight foul shots in the final 1:29 to finish off the victory.

FIBA