Lebanon make big plays down stretch to hold off Chinese Taipei

CHANGSHA-HUNAN (2015 FIBA Asia Championship) - Lebanon held their nerve and clinched an impressive 92-87 win over a resilient Chinese Taipei on Wednesday at the FIBA Asia Championship.

In one of the closest games on opening day, Jean Abd El Nour connected from behind the arc to snap a 78-78 tie with 3:24 remaining and Lebanon held on for a famous triumph. 

Ahmad Ibrahim was one of a handful of players to make big plays in the opening contest as Lebanon held off a Quincy Davis-led Chinese Taipei.

Davis finished with 23 points in a losing cause.

Turning point: Chinese Taipei trailed early but got the wind in their sails and knotted the contest at 53-53 midway through the third quarter. With a chance to take the lead, Chih-Shan Hung missed two free-throws and Lebanon closed the quarter on a 16-4 run. When Chinese Taipei tied the game late in the fourth, Abd El Nour hit one of Lebanon's 13 three-pointers.

Stats Don't Lie: Chinese Taipei probably would have won the game had they made their free-throws, but a 10 of 22 (45 percent) effort at the line hurt their cause. 

Game Hero: Ibrahim hit a shot from the arc and had two other baskets in the decisive 11-0 run for Lebanon that put them in control in the third quarter, but the play of Wael Arakji and Jasmon Youngblood helped slam the door on Chinese Taipei. Araki hit two key three-balls and finished with 14 points while Youngblood had 18 points and scored on key drives to the basket.

The Bottom Line: Were it not for Chinese Taipei's woeful free-throw shooting, the Far East team might have won this game but Lebanon made the plays when they had to and got a win that may serve as a launchpad for big things.

FIBA