In the opening game of the Efes World Cup tournament held in Ankara, hosts Turkey fell to Croatia with 77-82 after trailing almost throughout the whole game.
The Turkish side managed to get a small lead late in the third quarter, but was unaible to keep it as Croatia scored eight consecutive points to regain the lead and keep it till the end.
Turkey: Yarangume, Guler, Atsur 12, Onan 12, Ilyasova 8, Erden 8, Tunceri 4, Solak, Faruk Asik 6, Arslan, Savas 8, Turkoglu 17, Hersek 2
Croatia: Ukic 16, Kus 8, M.Popovic 12, Vujcic 4, Rancic, Rozic 4, Stojic 8, Tomic, Banic 8, Nicevic 2, Kasun 3, Prkacin 12, Loncar 5
In the other game of the tournament, Latvians escaped with the win after trailing throughout the first three quarters. Great Britain had a 12-point lead at halftime (40-52), but Latvia managed to tie the game to enter the final period where they grabbed the win with 86-84.
Latvia: Helmanis, Vitols 9, Skele 15, Blums 5, Valters 12, Janicenoks 7, Biedrins 7, Berzins 9, Kalve 4, Freimanis, Stalbergs, Kambala 18
Great Britain: Hart 2, Lenzley 11, Sullivan 2, Archibald 17, Freeland 1, Reinking 11, Robinson, Betts 16, Clark, George 17, Forbes 7
