Ricky Rubio (R) of Spain shoots during the Group C match against Iran at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, on Sept. 4, 2019. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
Spain cruises into round of 16 at FIBA World Cup as Group C leader after defeating Iran 73-65 for their third consecutive win.
GUANGZHOU, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- World No. 2 Spain edged Iran 73-65 to win its third straight game, topping Group C of FIBA World Cup here on Wednesday.
The two sides seesawed to the fourth quarter and leveled at 65-65 with 1:49 on the clock, before Sergio Llull hit a three-pointer, Victor Claver sent a slam dunk and Marc Gasol added another three to seal the victory for Spain.
Gasol had 16 points while Claver and Juancho Hernangomez added 11 apiece. Mohammad Jamshidijafarabadi scored 15 for Iran, Micheal Rostampour had 13 and Hamed Haddadi contributed 10.
However, it was the Iranians who rushed into the game with a 10-0 run after Behnam Yakhchalidehkordi scored a three-pointer. Ricky Rubio and Gasol shined as Spain went back into the game to cut the deficit to only three, but Iran led 21-18 into the second quarter.
Marc Gasol (C) of Spain shoots as Hamed Haddadi (L) and Mohammadsamad Nik Khahbahrami of Iran defend during the Group C match against Iran at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, on Sept. 4, 2019. (Xinhua/He Changshan)
Then the game went into a close battle as the two teams tied and changed leads frequently.
Spain, who led 33-31 into the halftime break, increased its advantage to nine at 52-43 with two minutes left in the third quarter.
Jamshidijafarabadi and Rostampour combined a 10-0 spurt to lift Iran to a 53-52 lead into the last quarter before the dramatic 1:49 at the end.
Iran tailed in Group C after losing all its three games and will play the classification round of 17-32, while Spain next meets Italy and Serbia in the round of 16 for a quarterfinal spot.
