Olympics

Canada needs OT to defeat Italy in men's basketball exhibition

Canada's senior men's basketball team needed overtime to defeat Italy on Sunday, escaping with a 74-71 win. Khem Birch led Canada to the victory, coming off the bench to lead the team in points with 13, adding 11 rebounds. Tyler Ennis added 11 points and eight assists in the win.

Canadians now 3-1 on exhibition tour in advance of Olympic qualifier

Brady Heslip, seen here in a CBC file photo, started on Sunday in a 74-71 overtime win over Italy in an exhibition game. (Alexis Espejo/CBC)

Canada's senior men's basketball team needed overtime to defeat Italy on Sunday, escaping with a 74-71 win. 

Khem Birch led Canada to the victory, coming off the bench to lead the team in points with 13, adding 11 rebounds. Tyler Ennis added 11 points and eight assists in the win. 

The game was tied 61-61 after regulation, before Canada pulled away in the extra frame.

With the win, Canada moved to 3-1 on their five-game exhibition tour, with their final game against Puerto Rico coming on Wednesday. 

The tour is working as a tune-up for Canada's last-chance Olympic qualifying tournament next month in Manila.