MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina (CP) - Vancouver's Levon Kendall scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Canada 79-74 over Australia for third place in basketball's under-21 world championship on Sunday.
In the gold-medal game, Lithuania beat Greece 65-63. Earlier, J.J. Redick scored a game-high 22 points to lead the United States over Argentina 111-85 for fifth place. Canada led 76-74 with 30 seconds remaining when Garry Gallimore of Ottawa secured the victory with three consecutive free throws.
"Obviously, it was a great game because we won," said Canadian head coach Dave Crook. "Australia has had a spectacular performance in this tournament, but today we defeated them.

"I always believed in our players, in their skills and their quality."

Brad Newley had 17 points for Australia, which finished 6-2.

"We faced Australia many times and we knew that they are a tough rival," Kendall. "Today we won because we played with energy and courage."

Vladimir Kuljanin of Toronto added 12 points and 10 rebounds for Canada.

Australia's coach, Benjamin Allen thought his team let Canada get too many breaks starting in the third quarter - and failed in its three-point shooting.

"We are disappointed because we had a great showing," Allen said. "We missed some decisive three-point shots."

Canada had lost to Australia in the qualifying round earlier this week after defeating them twice in July, including the championship game at the Jack Donohue International Classic in Mississauga, Ont.

In the U.S. victory, American Justin Gray also scored 16 points as the U.S. finished 7-1, its only loss in overtime to Canada in the quarterfinals on Friday when Kendall had a tournament-high 40 points.

The U.S. outrebounded Argentina 43-29 as the Americans shot more three-pointers and outmaneuvered the host while racing to a 61-29 halftime lead. Leonardo Mainoldi had 21 points for Argentina, which finished the tournament 5-3.

"We went all out from the beginning as we were trying to forget our disappointment over losing to Canada," U.S. Coach Phil Martelli said. "The key to winning this match was the first half."

Argentine Coach Gonzalo Garcia commented that the U.S. showed the kind of on-court toughness he expected of a team playing in the final.

"I can't explain how the U.S. didn't get to the final, but we ran up against a wall and we couldn't do anything," he said.

Earlier, Jesus Verdejo had 19 points to help Puerto Rico to an 86-77 victory over Slovenia for seventh place.

Twelve teams were to have competed in the tournament here in Mar del Plata, an Argentine South Atlantic beach resort. Iran pulled out just before the start because of Israel's participation.