Australia edge GB in OT

Great Britain are ranked 56th in the world compared to Australia's nine but such a gulf was not evident in a match that stayed close throughout was not decided until the very last second, the final scoreline 91-90.

Indeed had the hosts not spurned so many opportunities from the free throw line, the result would have been very different and even comfortable.

France beat Serbia 80-77 to win the event while Australia took second place and Croatia came third after a win over China on the final day with Britain fifth behind the Serbs.

Early in the third quarter Australia opened up their advantage to 10 points but Great Britain determinedly pegged it back, thanks to an inspired performance in offence and defence from Chicago Bulls star Luol Deng.

And when impressive youngster Devon van Oostrum drained a three pointer with just over a minute left, the hosts were ahead for the first time since early in the match.

Deng, who looked much sharper than he did in the previous day's win over China, top scored with 26 in a physical and occasionally scrappy encounter not aided by the two team's similar playing styles.

He even had a chance to win it, only to see his long-range three pointer crash against the rim as the buzzer sounded.

Basketball might not be a traditional battle ground for these two sporting arch-rivals but overtime brought out the best and worst of a partisan crowd, who cheered and booed with equal measure.

Great Britain seized an early advantage in overtime but Brad Newley's three pointer with just 30 seconds remaining reduced their advantage to just one point.

Adam Gibson then tied it up from the free throw line and when Ogo Adegboye committed an unnecessary foul with just fractions remaining, Gibson was again on his mark to secure the victory.

But this week's tournament will give British coach Chris Finch plenty of cause for optimism ahead of the EuroBasket finals in Lithuania later this month.

While this is far from a one man team, Deng's presence brings out the best in those around him and to rattle a team like Australia, a likely rival at next year's London 2012 Olympics, is a major positive.

Five competitive matches in six days will have also knitted together the team better than any training camp or friendly and there are encouraging signs across the roster.

In addition, claiming a top t10 scalp like China moves the British team into uncharted territory, while they also got within two points of Serbia, ranked fourth in the world.

But just as they have faced sides ranked above them this week, the task ahead is equally stiff.

Finch's side progressed through last year's qualifying as the top team in their group but in coming days will take on defending European champions Spain, hosts Lithuania, world silver medallists Turkey, Poland and either Finland or Portugal.

Finch does have some injury worries though with captain Drew Sullivan absent from the starting line-up against Australia through injury while rising star teenager Dan Clark suffered a knock to his wrist and was sidelined from midway through the third quarter.