Lebanon upsets France at basketball world championships

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/basketball/nba/wires/08/23/2030.ap.bko.lebanon.france.1st.ld.writethru.0387/

Lebanon upsets France at basketball world championships

SENDAI, Japan (AP) -Playing without their coach, Lebanon's players pulled off an upset Wednesday, defeating France 74-73 at the basketball world championships.

Joseph Vogel's free throw with 23 seconds left lifted Lebanon to the victory.

Lebanon played without American coach Paul Coughter, who was ill with the flu and stayed at the team hotel.

"This is a historic win for us,'' said assistant coach Khalaf Koussay. "I think France took it easy because they saw our last two games.''

Lebanon lost all five games and finished last at the 2002 worlds in Indianapolis. But it beat Venezuela in its first game in Japan and could advance to the second round with a win Thursday.

"We still have to beat Nigeria,'' Koussay said. "They have shown in this tournament they are a good team, and it will be a tough game for us.''

Vogel, who was born in the United States but has Lebanese citizenship, made a hook shot with 23.8 seconds remaining to give Lebanon a 73-72 lead.

Boris Diaw of the Phoenix Suns made it 74-73 with a free throw but missed his second attempt. Laurent Foirest got the rebound of Diaw's missed free throw and missed a jumper from the baseline.

France (2-2) tied the game 68-68 with 1:45 left on a baseline jumper by Diaw. Rony Fahed hit a 3-pointer to give Lebanon a 71-68 lead.

Fadi El Khatib led Lebanon (2-2) with 29 points.

"I can't explain what happened today,'' said El Khatib. "We wanted to play good basketball after two losses and show that Lebanon has talent. We are happy for our country.''

El Khatib scored 14 first-half points, and Lebanon took a 43-30 lead at the break.

Diaw, who played 29 minutes, led France with 14 points. Florent Pietrus had 14.

France, which plays Venezuela on Thursday, went on an 11-point run to open the third quarter and trailed 53-49 entering the final period.

"We played bad in the first half,'' said France's Joseph Gomis. "We came back in the second half, but it wasn't enough. This is very embarrassing.''
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