Day three in Slovenia and Groups C and D are enjoying a rest day, so the focus remains on Groups A and B.
Group A
Germany 83-88 Ukraine
Ukraine got its third straight win at this year’s Eurobasket following an 88-83 win over Germany in Ljubljana.
Germany can look to their over-reliance of three-point shooting to their defeat, shooting 40 percent from distance but attempting 32 shots. Ukraine coach Mike Fratello recognized this and made suitable defensive adjustments that Germany coach Frank Menz failed to see.
Ukraine now move to 3-0 in the group, while dropping Germany to 1-2.
Eugene Jeter said: “We just believed, man, believed in each other. Once we stepped out on that court, we just knew that for Germany this would be their third game too. So we just went into the game and we wanted it.”
Sergii Gladyr led Ukraine with 25 points, supported by Jeter’s contribution of 29 points and six assists.
Hieko Schaffartzik led Germany with 22.
Belgium 76-71 Great Britain
Belgium improved to 2-1 by edging Great Britain in game two in Ljubljana.
It was a close game throughout with not much separating the two teams, but a late fourth quarter burst from the Belgian Lions was enough to seal the win.
The British have shown the European basketball stage that they can compete despite the numerous critics pre-Eurobasket.
Sasha Massot led the Lions with 15 points as they improve to 2-1. Free agent Dan Clark responded with 19 for GB who drop to 1-2.
France 82-63 Israel
France completed a routine 82-63 win over a helpless Israel side in the day’s final game before the rest day.
The Group A favourites before the tournament began led 38-29 at the half and extended their lead as the third quarter wore on as Israel drop to 0-3 in group play.
Alexis Ajlinca led the French with 13 points. Omri Casspi and Lior Eliyahu both fronted Israel with 14 points each.
Group B
Montenegro 70-76 Bosnia & Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina got off the mark at the third time of asking after beating Montenegro 76-70 in game one in Jesenice.
At the risk of dropping to 0-3, the Bosnians came back from a 10-point deficit in the third quarter and explode to life in the fourth, reeling off 27 points to the Montenegrins’ 11.
“What can I say? This is our basketball. Sometimes it looks like we don’t have a system, but we know exactly what we are doing,” said Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Nihad Djedovic.
Mirza Teletovic led the Bosnians with 18 points. Bojan Dubljevic replied with 16 for Montenegro.
Latvia 59-67 Lithuania
Lithuania got the better of their close northern neighbours Latvia 67-59 in a tightly fought battle.
A double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds from Jonas Valanciunas provided Lithuania with their second win out of three games played as they prepare for the rest day tomorrow.
Rihards Kuksiks led Latvia with 13 points but drop their first game of the group.
FYR of Macedonia 89-75 Serbia
Bo McCalebb starred as the FYR of Macedonia defeated 2009 silver medalists Serbia 89-75 in the day’s final game in Jesenice.
The Macedonians rebounded the ball extremely well, winning 48-36 and having McCalebb on form with 27 points, it was always going to be their night.
New Atlanta Hawks acquisition Pero Antic got an impressive double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds too for the Macedonians as Nenad Krstic and company were unable to find any answers for his inside presence.
Danilo Andjustic had 19 points to lead the Serbians.
