Siulepa, Furphy combine for 38 points in big-time win

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Queensland star Roman Siulepa is making a name for himself on the biggest stage for junior men's basketballers — the FIBA World Cup.

Siulepa and Jacob Furphy, the younger brother of NBA player Johnny Furphy, helped the Australian Emus overpower France 71-63 in a crucial Group D clash in Switzerland early on Wednesday, July 2, 2025.

Key Details

• Result: Australia 71 def. France 63
• When: 1st July 2025
• Where: Cooly Arena, Switzerland

By the Numbers

• Roman Siulepa (Australia) starred with 19 points, eight rebounds, one steal and two blocks in 23 minutes.
• Jacob Furphy (Australia) scored 19 points and had three rebounds, five assists and one steal in 32 minutes.
• Talis Soulhac (France) scored 12 points, and had three rebounds, six assists, three steals and one block in 19 minutes.

What Happened

Australia executed a balanced attack against France, controlling the tempo and leveraging their advantage on the boards throughout the contest. The Emus established their presence early and maintained consistent pressure, eventually pulling away in the fourth quarter to secure the eight-point victory in Group D of the FIBA U19 World Cup.

The Australians dominated the rebounding battle, pulling down 51 boards compared to France's 31. This 20-rebound advantage proved decisive, with Australia grabbing 18 offensive rebounds that led to crucial second-chance opportunities. Luke Fennell provided a significant spark off the bench, contributing 13 points including two three-pointers in just 17 minutes of action.

Siulepa delivered an outstanding performance in the paint, shooting an efficient 7-from-13 from the field and converting 5-from-6 from the free-throw line. His interior presence was complemented by Jacob Furphy's perimeter shooting, with the guard connecting on 5-from-9 attempts from beyond the arc. The duo's combined 38 points accounted for more than half of Australia's total scoring output.

France struggled from the charity stripe, shooting a dismal 47.8 percent (11-from-23) on free throws compared to Australia's 72 percent (18-from-25). This inefficiency at the line ultimately proved costly for the French squad. Talis Soulhac led France with 12 points and six assists, but his effort wasn't enough to overcome Australia's superior rebounding and shooting efficiency.

Defensively, Australia's commitment showed in their eight steals and three blocks, forcing France into 18 turnovers. The Emus' defensive pressure disrupted France's offensive rhythm throughout the contest, limiting their opponents to just 26.1 percent shooting from three-point range.

The victory strengthens Australia's position in Group D, giving them crucial momentum as they continue their FIBA U19 World Cup campaign.