FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019: Australian Boomers fall to France in bronze medal game

Benyam Kidane

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FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019: Australian Boomers fall to France in bronze medal game image

France secure back-to-back bronze medals at the FIBA Basketball World Cup, after edging Australia 67-59 in the third-place game.

After trailing by as many as 15 points in the third quarter, France roared home behind Evan Fournier and Nando De Colo, surging back into the game behind a 19-6 run. 

The Boomers have lost four previous bronze medal games, all coming at the Olympic Games (1988, 1996, 2000, and 2016).

De Colo led France with 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting, taking over in the second half to power France home.

Evan Fournier added 16 points, while Nic Batum and Andrew Albicy chipped in nine each, with Albiciy draining three triples in the fourth quarter, including the dagger to extend the lead to seven points with 1:06 remaining. 

Joe Ingles led the Aussies with 17 points, five rebounds and three assists, while Patty Mills was on the only other scorer in double figures with 15.

Mills had the Aussies going early, scoring eight points in the first quarter as the Boomers took a 16-11 lead after 10 minutes. Ingles took over in the second, leading the Aussies with 12 points as they took a 30-21 lead into half-time. 


Ingles' and-1 layup over Rudy Gobert with 7:34 remaining in the third extended the lead to 15, before De Colo and Fournier powered France back into the game, cutting the lead to four points heading into the fourth quarter. 

After both teams traded the lead, France siezed control when Gobert's first bucket of the game put them up 60-56 with 2:06 remaining.

De Colo then produced a clutch steal with 1:25 remaining, before Albicy's triple gave France some breathing room. France held strong down the stretch, thanks to some Batum free-throws, winning the final quarter 25-13.

De Colo was instrumental in France's comeback, scoring nine points in the fourth quarter. 

Turnovers continued to plague the Aussies in their semi-final, amassing 19 to France's 13. 

Benyam Kidane

Benyam Kidane Photo

Benyam Kidane is a senior NBA editor and has been covering the league for The Sporting News since 2016. In his spare time you can find him watching Allen Iverson highlights on repeat.