Slovenia Mounts Fourth-Quarter Comeback Against Ivory Coast
Slovenia secured a crucial FIBA U17 World Cup victory, staging a dramatic second-half comeback to defeat Ivory Coast 86-73. The Ivorians held a slim 41-38 lead at halftime and extended it to 63-59 entering the final period, only to be outscored 27-10 in the decisive fourth quarter. This 17-point swing proved insurmountable for Ivory Coast, despite their bench contributing 27 points. Slovenia's superior shooting, hitting 42% from the field compared to Ivory Coast's 33%, and a commanding 51-29 rebounding advantage were key factors. Jakob Siftar led the charge with 21 points and 7 rebounds, complemented by Matic Rezec's 19 points and 9 rebounds. While Jean-Charles Siransi chipped in 12 points off the bench and Jean-Philippe Oka posted 9 points and 11 rebounds, Ivory Coast couldn't overcome Slovenia's late surge. The win signals a strong statement of intent from Slovenia in the tournament.