LIB - Lebanon split games with Japan

TOKYO (2010 FIBA World Championship) - Lebanon split a pair of games with Japan this weekend as they continue their preparations for the FIBA World Championship.

Lebanon needed overtime to beat Japan 92-87 on Saturday, but then narrowly lost the second 79-77 24 hours later.

On Saturday, the two teams played to a 77-77 tie in regulation, but William Farris then scored six points in the extra session to lead a Lebanese charge to victory.

Japan had needed a big fourth quarter rally to erase a nine-point deficit in the final quarter.

Jackson Vroman led Lebanon with 28 points and 14 rebounds.

Takuya Kawamura led Japan with 21 points, while Makoto Nagayama got 11 of his 14 in the fourth quarter.

However, Japan hit back in Game Two, building a big early lead before allowing Lebanon to take a promising 70-64 lead in the final quarter.

But Japan fought back to level it before snatching victory at the death when Hiroyuki Kinoshita nailed a pair of free throws.

Both teams will go forward to the FIBA Asia Stankovic Cup, hosted by Lebanon, before the latter play in the FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

Before then, they will meet again in the final game of their series on Tuesday.

FIBA