ISTANBUL
Lithuania defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 87-70 in the EuroBasket Group B match to qualify for the EuroBasket last 16 on Wednesday.
The first quarter ended with a 28-28 tie while the Lithuanian team took a double-digit lead with a 56-42 score end of the second quarter at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne.
Lithuania then controlled all two phases of the contest to lead the remaining quarters, 19-17 and 12-11.
Five players in Lithuania scored in double figures – Marius Grigonis (16), Arnas Butkevicius (13), Jonas Valanciunas (13), Ignas Brazdeikis (13), and Domantas Sabonis (12).
New Orleans Pelicans’ Valanciunas posted a double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds.
Bosnian guard Dzanan Musa was the highest scorer of the game with 22 points.
Portland Trail Blazers’ Jusuf Nurkic netted 15 points and five rebounds, but were not enough for their team to come out on top.
Third-placed Lithuania, together with Germany, France, and Slovenia, earned a knockout stage berth.
The top four teams from each group will move to the final stage in Berlin.
