Home FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Monetengro sneak past Great Britain

Monetengro sneak past Great Britain

Montenegro made a winning start to the EuroBasket 2021 qualifiers by beating Great Britain 81-74 in Podgorica.

However, the hosts needed a mixture of luck and composure to get the win as they survived a late rally from GB, which included two three-pointers from Teddy Okereafor missing the mark in the final 20 seconds.

And from there, Montenegro secured the win from the foul line, despite a late throw down from GB forward Ovie Soko.

Justin Cobbs led the winners with 19 points and eight assists. Myles Hesson led all scorers in vain for the visitors with 20.

Eager to please the vocal home following in the capital, following a disappointing FIBA World Cup campaign last summer, Montenegro raced out the blocks with a 24-14 lead after one.

However, GB, who advanced to the qualifiers via the pre-qualifiiers last summer, narrowed the gap to 42-38 at the half and were brimming full of confidence after a thunderous dunk from Hesson.

Montenegro regrouped in the third and put the game beyond Great Britain despite a nervy final two minutes for the hosts.

With a win secured, Montenegro will look to build on that as they travel to France on Monday, whereas GB host Germany on the same night.

EuroBasket 2021 Qualifiers:

Thursday

Georgia 96-88 Switzerland
Romania 71-84 Spain
Finland 58-80 Serbia
Hungary 77-75 Slovenia
Poland 71-75 Israel
Austria 73-88 Ukraine
North Macedonia 72-81 Estonia
Italy 83-64 Russia

Friday

Croatia 72-56 Sweden
Turkey 65-72 Netherlands
Greece 73-63 Bulgaria
Latvia 61-62 Bosnia & Herzegovina
Germany 83-69 France
Czech Rep 75-71 Denmark
Belgium 86-65 Lithuania

Photo: FIBA

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