France seals 72-66 win over Spain at foul line

IZMIR, Turkey — Mickael Gelabale scored 16 points and France was nearly perfect at the free throw late in its 72-66 victory over defending champion Spain on Saturday at the world championship. France (1-0) made 10 of its last 12 free throws to seal the win in the opening game for both teams. Juan Carlos Navarro led Spain (0-1) with 17 points. Spain built a 12-point lead early in the second quarter, but France used a 9-0 run to tie the game at 25 and it was close the rest of the way. Spain, which won the title in Japan in 2006, is playing without Pau Gasol, a member of the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers. – AP