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NOVI SAD (FIBA U19 World Championship) - France overturned a first-quarter deficit to claim a 100-83 triumph over Spain and advance to the FIBA U19 World Championship semi-final on Friday.

Antoine Diot and Adrien Moerman did the damage for Les Bleuets with 27 and 24 points respectively, but both were outdone by Spain's Xavi Forcada who poured in a game-high 28 points in a losing cause.

In a topsy-turvy first quarter the balance of power shifted on numerous occasions, with France 8-2 and 17-12 up before finding themselves trailing 25-23 at the 10-minute mark.

The French stormed back in the second period, however, and had built up a nine-point cushion by the midway point at 53-44.

That advantage was soon stretched with France edging the third quarter to lead 73-56 at the half-hour mark.

Spain could not find a way back into the match in the final 10 minutes, or indeed make any inroads at all as France maintained their 17-point margin of victory.

Les Bleuets next face a last-four meeting with the United States, who overcame Argentina 112-86 earlier on Friday.

FIBA