Bosnia and Herzegovina opened their EuroBasket 2025 campaign with a 91-64 victory over host nation Cyprus, powered by a dominant performance from Jusuf Nurkic.
Playing at the Spyros Kyprianou Arena in Limassol, Bosnia quickly established control after a tight opening stretch. A 15-2 run midway through the second quarter pushed the lead to double digits, and the margin grew to 24 points before halftime.
Cyprus fought back in the third quarter behind strong energy from the home crowd. The hosts cut the deficit to 62-54 late in the period, but Bosnia responded with three timely three-pointers to halt the momentum.
From there, the Dragons put the game out of reach with a 33-point fourth quarter to seal a decisive win in Group C.
Nurkic was the centerpiece for Bosnia, finishing with 18 points on 6-for-11 shooting, including two three-pointers. He added six rebounds—four of them on the offensive glass—along with two steals and a block in just under 22 minutes of action.
Bosnia also received balanced scoring from their supporting cast. Adin Vrabac posted 10 points, five rebounds, and five assists, while Amar Gegic added 10 points and six assists. Kenan Kamenjas contributed nine points and a team-high eight rebounds off the bench.
Cyprus was led by Konstantinos Simitzis, who scored a game-high 22 points on 8-of-17 shooting. Filippos Tigkas added 12 points and five assists, while Darral Willis Jr. chipped in nine points and 10 rebounds.
Bosnia dominated the glass with a 48-36 rebounding advantage and showcased depth, finishing with 23 assists as a team. Their defensive effort also forced 15 Cyprus turnovers, leading to multiple transition opportunities.
The win puts Bosnia at the top of Group C alongside Georgia, who defeated defending champions Spain earlier in the day. The Dragons will next face Spain on August 30 in a matchup that could prove crucial for knockout-stage seeding.
For Cyprus, the loss was a tough start to their first-ever EuroBasket appearance. They will look to regroup quickly as they prepare to meet Greece in their second group-stage contest.
