Spain shake off Senegal, set date with France

MADRID (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Spain moved another step closer to their much-hoped title at home as the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup hosts cruised past Senegal 89-56 to book a date in the Quarter-Finals.

Pau Gasol scored 17 points to go with five rebounds and three blocks, while Jose Calderon, Felipe Reyes and Serge Ibaka each added 11 points and Ricky Rubio collected seven points, six assists, five rebounds and five steals.

Standing in the way of Spain's place in the Semi-Finals are old rivals France.

Spain pulled away from France in the second half of an 88-64 win during the group stage in Granada.

The match-up will also be a re-match of the EuroBasket 2013 Semi-Finals, which France won on their way to the continental title.

Senegal had no pressure but also couldn't come up with the answers though Mouhammad Faye and Abdou Badji had 12 points each.

The Africans watched Spain shoot 57.6 percent from the floor while hitting just 35.6 percent of their own shots.

Spain got Gasol involved early and often in the first quarter as he totalled 13 points in the first eight minutes, helping the host nation build a 19-12 run. Many of his points came at the rim or on the break.

The Spaniards led was 23-17 after one quarter and continued to be extremely effective offensively in the second period as they stretched their lead up to 13 points, which was the margin at the break - 41-28.

They did not let up at all in the third quarter and pushed the cushion out to 22 points and led 62-43.

Despite Spain bringing on their last reserves, Senegal could only cut the deficit down to 18 points in the fourth. 

FIBA