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South Sudan defeated Great Britain 84-81 at London’s Copper Box Arena as they prepare for their first Olympic Games in Paris.<\/b><\/p>\n
Unlike Royal Ivey’s side, GB did not qualify for the Paris Olympics and failed to bounce back from recent defeats against Portugal and Argentina.<\/p>\n
South Sudan narrowly led the end-to-end encounter 44-42 at half-time and the game remained tight throughout.<\/p>\n
Marial Shayok was the visitors’ top scorer with 27 points, followed by 15 points from Bul Kuol.<\/p>\n
The game went down to the last play as South Sudan successfully defended GB’s final attack to deny a three-point throw to tie the game.<\/p>\n
It was a special day for South Sudan Basketball Federation president Luol Deng, who returned to London, having played there for Great Britain at the 2012 Olympic Games.<\/p>\n
The second game of this Summer Series at the Copper Box Arena takes place on Sunday at 15:00 BST when the Great Britain women’s team play Germany.<\/p>\n
South Sudan will next face the United States at the O2 Arena on 20 July as they continue their Olympic preparations.<\/p>\n
Basketball at the Paris Olympics will run from 27 July-11 August.<\/p>\n
There are two medal events – men’s and women’s – with the men’s final taking place on 10 August and the women’s on 11 August.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n