Eurobasket - France stay unbeaten

Eurosport - Mon, 14 Sep 08:50:00 2009

Nicolas Batum starred for France as they maintained their unbeaten EuroBasket record win a victory over Croatia.

BASKETBALL 2009 Eurobasket France Batum Turiaf - 0

Batum netted 18 points as France secured their quarter-final place as top qualifiers following a 87-79 comeback win in Bydgoszcz.

"At half time we decided to change our gameplan," said French coach Vincent Collet.

"We didn't play well in the first half and the fact we were down by just five made us happy.

"We knew that if we step up on defense we can come back and that's what we did."

Croatia are facing the shock prospect of an early elimination - and must now beat Germany, who lost 86-75 to Macedonia, to secure progression.

Kelly McCarty and Sergey Monya combined for 33 points as reigning champions Russia inflicted a first loss on Greece with a narrow 68-65 win.

"I think that we controlled the game and we deserved to win the game," said Russian coach David Blatt.

"There is really nobody younger and more inexperienced than us. And to beat Croatia and Greece in three days and the way we did is admirable.

"We had more to gain by this game than Greece and that may have had a difference in this game in the first half. Players are human beings. And I think Greece probably let down a little. And we jumped on it hard."

More Than The Games / Eurosport

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