Déjà-vu: France defeats Italy in OT after improbable comeback / News - Basketnews.com

Simone Fontecchio missed two free throws at the end of the fourth quarter leading by two, and France tied the game to go to overtime. The French looked better on both sides of the court during the additional 5 minutes, and captured the win.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

France once again came back after having a significant deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat their opponents in overtime as Vincent Collet's team outplayed Italy 93-85 (27-20, 11-11, 18-31, 21-15, 16-8).

Player of the Game EFF 24 Rudy Gobert Points 19 Accuracy 8-11 Rebounds 14 Assists 2

France started the game much better and already led nine (13-4) following a Terry Tarpey layup. Although Italy closed out on the deficit (15-12), the French finished the first quarter better and led by seven (27-20).

The second quarter followed a similar game script, and the teams were separated by 9 heading into the half (40-31).

However, Vincent Collet's team once again began to struggle in the third quarter. Italy not only gained their first lead of the game (57-56) but headed into the last 10 minutes of the game leading by six (62-56).

France tried to mount a comeback during the fourth quarter. With Italy leading by 6 with four minutes to go (70-64), the opponents answered with a Terry Tarpey and-one and Rudy Gobert's dunk to narrow the deficit down to just two (68-70).

With just over two minutes to go, Simone Fontecchio made a tough three-pointer to put the team up by seven (75-68) and force a French timeout.

Marco Spissu received a technical foul on the defensive possession, after which Evan Fournier not only converted the ensuing free throw but made a layup as well to pull the team within two (75-73).

In the moments that followed, a French expression of déjà vu would describe everything in a perfect way.

Leading by two (77-75), Fontecchio shot two free throws with 16 seconds left. However, the Italian team's leader missed them both. Thomas Heurtel made a driving layup after getting a rebound, and the teams had to go to overtime.

With two minutes remaining and France leading by three (85-82), Italy's head coach Gianmarco Pozzecco received a technical foul. Heurter did not convert the free throw and the Italians closed the game to just two (87-85). However, France ended the overtime better both offensively and defensively and captured a win to go to the semifinal.

Prior to the quarterfinal match, Simone Fontecchio had missed just two free throws out of 18. He made just 3 out of 6 today. On the other side of the court, Rudy Gobert captured his seventh double-double in the EuroBasket, while no other French player has made more than three since 1995.

Overtime hero Thomas Heurtel led France with 20 points on 8-for-14 shooting and 8 assists. Rudy Gobert added a strong double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds.

Simone Fontecchio and Marco Spissu were tied for the lead in scoring on the other side with 19 points each.

France: Thomas Heurtel 20 (4/7 2PT, 4/7 3PT, 8 AST), Rudy Gobert 19 (8/10 2PT, 14 REB), Evan Fournier 17 (3/8 2PT, 3/9 3PT), Guerschon Yabusele 15 (3/8 3PT, 7 REB), Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot 13 (3/4 3PT).

Italy: Simone Fontecchio 21 (3/8 2PT, 4/7 3PT, 3/6 FT, 5 REB), Marco Spissu 21 (3/7 2PT, 4/5 3PT), Luigi Datome 12 (4/9 3PT), Nicolo Melli 10 (3/5 2PT, 7 AST).

Thomas Heurtel's performance:

Full game highlights:

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