RIGA, Latvia - The United States defeated France 83-81 on Sunday to beat 7-foot-2 Viktor Vembanyama's mammoth performance to win the FIBA Under-19 World Cup.
Wembanyama recorded 22 points, 8 rebounds and 8 blocks, but was out of foul play with 2:42 to play, and the Americans held on for the win, including Jaden Ivey of Purdue and Kenneth Lofton Jr. of Louisiana Tech. There were 16 points.
Chet Holmgren, who came 7-foot-1 to Gonzaga, added 10 points and 5 assists and was named the tournament's MVP.
17-year-old Vembanyama, playing against a team with many predictable 2022 NBA draft picks, just went 1-for-5 from behind the arch, but sank all nine of his free throws.
Vembanyama is not eligible for the NBA Draft until 2023 under current rules. He recently signed up with French club Aswell, which is owned by former San Antonio Spurs great Tony Parker.
France led 58-50 late in the third quarter, but the Americans conceded defeat. Holmgren scored a foul off Wembanyama - his fourth, forcing him on the bench with 7:22 to play - both sinking the free throw and 69 with a reverse layup to give his team a baseline finish on his next possession. Put forward for -68. Drive.
Louis Lasmond's 3-pointer closed the gap to 83–81 with 29 seconds remaining, but France never captured.
TCU guard Mike Miles had 11 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals for the United States.
Canada defeated Serbia 101-92 in the third-place game.