Italy came two free throws away from committing another upset against France, but Rudy Gobert (19 pts, 14 reb) and Thomas Heurtel (20 pts, 8 ast) led France to a 93-85 win in overtime. Italy was leading 75-77 with 16 seconds remaining for the end of regulation.
Simone Fontecchio drew the foul by Fournier and went to the line for two free throws but missed both. Fontecchio was the leading scorer with 21 points and a huge three that put Italy up by 7 (68-75) with less than 2:30 remaining in the game.
France finished the game with a 9-2 run to tie the game as Spissu was called for a T for flopping. Fournier and Tarpey led France to a 5-0 run (73-75), Spissu responded with a floater with 1 minute remaining.
🔥 Big game Fournier activated 🔥#EuroBasket x #BringTheNoise
📺 https://t.co/XA74VljBO4 pic.twitter.com/ROQd3Zo4Xl
— #EuroBasket 2022 (@EuroBasket) September 14, 2022
Then Fontecchio missed the 2 FT and Heurtel ran the fast break and made the layup to tie the game. Following Heurtel’s make, Fontecchio could not convert the layup with Italy having 5 seconds to attempt a shot.
With two minutes remaining and France leading by three (85-82) in the OT, Italy’s head coach Gianmarco Pozzecco received a technical foul. Heurtel did not convert the free throw and the Italians closed the game to just two (87-85).
However, the French NT closed the game on a 6-0 run to take the win and advance to the EuroBasket semifinal. France will face the winner of the matchup between Slovenia and Poland. France started the 1st quarter hot and took an 11-3 lead.
Vincent Collet’s team ended the first quarter with a 27-20 lead and remained ahead with 38-31 at end of the first. Italy came back stronger in the third quarter and took its first lead as Fontecchio and Spissu led them in scoring.
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). The momentum was with Italy’s side, but France survived in the regulation to beat the Italians in OT and advance to the EuroBasket semifinals.
One step closer to the trophy! 🏆
France 🇫🇷 defeat Italy 🇮🇹 in an OT thriller and will move on to the Semi-Finals!#EuroBasket x #BringTheNoise
— #EuroBasket 2022 (@EuroBasket) September 14, 2022
