Kristers Zeidaks poured in 24 points in helping keep Latvia's chances of the U18 European Championship Men semi-finals alive with a convincing 83-62 win.

Kalvis Krumins added 16 points and Oto Osenieks had 11 as Varis Krumins's team improved to 1-2 in the Qualifying Round Group F.

France dropped to 2-1 despite 15 points by Alexis Tanghe and 11 from Jonathan Bourhis.

Krumins knocked down a three-ball and Lauris Blaus converted a three-point play to open the game. Latvia did not allow France to score a basket until Miguel Buval connected with 4:25 left in the first. And Latvia's lead swelled to 18-5 before France cut the deficit to 18-10 after one period.

Chrislain Cairo's foul shot made it 20-15 but Zeidaks hit three baskets including a triple in giving Latvia a a 29-16 advantage. The cushion grew to 15 before France trailed 40-26 at half-time.

Andrew Albiciy's score trimmed the margin to 45-32, but Martins Laksa and Zeidaks drained long balls in spearheading a 10-0 run. Davis Rozitis and Osenieks both hit three-pointers en route to Latvia grabbing a 27-point lead 65-38 - which was 65-40 going into the fourth.

Osenieks's tip-in made it 70-40 and Zeidaks pushed the advantage to 80-48. France knew that every point could be crucial later in the Qualifying Round and Bourhis knocked down three triples in the closing stretches.