FSU’s Miller helps Spain win world title

Special to the Outlook

DEBRECEN, Hungary – Baba Miller, a player on the Florida State men’s basketball team, scored 11 points and pulled down five rebounds as a starter to lead Spain to a 73-69 overtime victory over France to capture the FIBA Under-19 World Championship at the Fonix Arena.

Spain outscored France by a 10-6 margin in overtime to win its second FIBA Under-19 World Championship.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” Miller told Seminoles.com.  “It’s the second time ever Spain has won this tournament. The last time was 24 years ago. It’s an unbelievable feeling. The happiness, joy and satisfaction that we are feeling right now is incomparable. We are the world champions.”

Jordi Rodriguez led Spain with 18 points and Rafael Villar totaled 17, including two free throws with 26 seconds left in overtime to send the Spaniards to the win. 

The FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup featured the world’s top 16 youth men’s national teams. They played a 56-game schedule between 24 June-July 2. 

Spain finished the nine-day competition undefeated at 7-0.  Miller was the third leading scorer for Spain, as he averaged 9.4 points, and was Spain’s second leading rebounder with a 6.0 rebounds per game average.  He also averaged 0.7 blocked shots, and 0.6 steals per game.  Miller was a starter in each of Spain’s seven games which included victories over Canada, France, China, Lebanon, Argentina, Turkey, and France to win the championship. 

“The final was difficult,” said Spain’s head Coach Daniel Garcia. “We believed until the end. France had a great performance but we fought until the last moment.  Sometimes basketball is more than just numbers and our heart made the difference in the end.”