Division B. Day 2 in Romania

Viljami Vartiainen

Georgia - Norway 71-51
Georgia outgunned Norway to take 2-0 record in Group B. Norway led by five points at the interval 35-30. But Georgia turned the tables in the second half. They ignited a 41-16 run after the big break and cruised to the victory. Giorgi Ochkhikidze (190-PG-2004) posted 22 points, while Vato Gachechiladze (2004) added 11 points for Georgia. Axel Borg (2004) and Amar Pinjo (2004) answered with 9 points each for Norway.

Slovakia - Switzerland 65-51
Slovakia held off Switzerland for the second straight win in Romania. Switzerland enjoyed an 18-12 lead after ten minutes. But Slovakia responded with a 26-7 rally in the second term to open a 38-25 halftime lead. They followed with a 20-11 run in the fourth period to seal the victory. Timotej Malovec (200-F-2004, agency: BeoBasket) notched 20 points, while Sebastian Rancik (198-SF-2005) added 18 points in the win. Tristan Frossard (198-F-2004) answered with 10 points for Switzerland.

Finland - Austria 110-64
Finland stormed past Austria to gain the first win in Group D. Finland unloaded 53 points in the first half to gain a 17-point lead. Finland unleashed 57 points in the second half to cruise to the victory. Viljami Vartiainen (197-G/F-2004) notched 24 points, while Miro Little (196-G-2004) added 19 points for the Finnish side. Joshua Schonback (193-F-2004) answered with 14 points for Austria.

Ukraine - Denmark 55-71
Denmark upset Ukraine to stay perfect in Group A. Denmark dominated from start to finish. The Scandinavian team accumulated a 44-27 halftime lead. They protected it well throughout the second half and eased to the win. Marqus Marion (203-F-2004) tossed in 20 points and collected 11 rebounds, while Tobias Jensen (180-SG-2004) and Sharif Barfi (197-PG-2004) had 12 points each for the winners. Nazarii Kulishenko (207-C-2005) accounted for 12 points for Ukraine.

Holland - Bosnia 71-99
Bosnia rallied past Netherlands for the second consecutive win in Group B. Netherlands grabbed a 28-16 lead ten minutes into the game. But Bosnia answered with a massive 62-28 run in the second half to ease to the win. Zinedin Mulic (199-SG-2004) stepped up with 25 points for Bosnia. Harun Zrno (198-SG-2004) added 16 points in the victory. Ryan Van Eyck (192-G-2005) tossed in 17 points, while Florian-Marin Rijkers (208-C-2005) added 15 points in the defeat.

Sweden - Belgium 58-68
Belgium outscored Sweden to improve at 2-0 record. Belgium grabbed a 36-26 halftime lead. They kept Sweden at bay throughout the second half and marched to the victory. Maxime Bilolo (202-C-2004) and Tom Di Maria (195-PG-2004) delivered 16 points each for Belgium. Elliot Cadeau (189-PG-2004) hauled in 18 points for Sweden.

Iceland - Estonia 105-91
Iceland outlasted Estonia for the first win in Group A. Iceland unloaded 58 points in the first half to take a 13-point lead. They followed with a 25-17 run in the third term to clear off for good. Tomas Thrastarson (197-G-2005) accounted for 38 points in the victory. Almar Atlason (202-F-2004) added 17 points and 12 rebounds for Iceland. Aleksander Tassa (195-G/F-2004) answered with 25 points for Estonia.

Bulgaria - Kosovo 85-65
Bulgaria coasted past Kosovo to open win count in Romania. Kosovo led by 10 points after ten minutes. But Bulgaria picked up the tempo in the next periods. Bulgaria dropped 33 points in the second term to surge ahead. They added 41 points in the second half and cruised to the win. Iliyan Pishtikov (192-F-2004) hauled in 28 points, while Momchil Kadiev (175-G-2005) added 12 points in the victory. Bardh Istrefi (204-PF-2004) replied with 24 points and 10 rebounds for Kosovo.

Hungary - Romania 60-64
Romania outscored Hungary to improve at 1-1 record in Group C. Romania eked out a 30-29 halftime lead. They extended the margin at 2-point mark at the final break. Romania held their opponents to just 12 points in the fourth quarter and raced to the win. Lorenzo Diaconescu (202-F-2005) notched 16 points and 10 rebounds for Romania. Adam Varszegi (195-G/F-2004) answered with 17 points for Hungary.

Latvia - Portugal 63-81
Portugal rallied past Latvia to gain 2-0 record atop of Group C. Diogo Seixas (199-SG-2004) came up with 19 points for the winners. Portugal led by just one point heading into the fourth quarter. But they erupted with a 27-10 run in the final stanza to race to the victory. Andre Afonso (193-C-2004) and Miguel Baker (196-C-2004) tossed in 14 points each for Portugal. Daniels Baumanis (188-G-2004) and Dans Galdins (194-G-2004) netted 14 points each for Latvia.