Unlike the last time France and Australia played in this tournament, when the two teams combined for 198 points, Sunday’s bronze-medal game was more of a defensive slugfest.
Also different from the prior meeting was the outcome, as the French used a 22-4 second-half run to defeat the Aussies, 67-59, and capture the bronze for the second straight FIBA World Cup.
Nando de Colo scored 19 points for France, which outscored Australia by 12 in the fourth quarter. The Orlando Magic’s Evan Fournier, the only other French player to score in double figures, finished with 16 points.