Division B. Day 4 in Romania

Florian-Marin Rijkers

Denmark - Estonia 81-70
Denmark outlasted Estonia to stay unbeaten in Romania. Denmark eked out a 42-38 halftime lead. They went on a 27-14 run in the third term to clear off for good. Tobias Jensen (180-SG-2004) scored 19 points, while Marqus Marion (203-F-2004) added 18 points and 9 caroms for Denmark. Karl Poom (198-F-2004) had 18 points and 9 rebounds for Estonia.

Norway - Kosovo 59-50
Norway outgunned Kosovo to improve at 2-2 record in Group B. The Scandinavian team snatched a 29-23 halftime lead. They held Kosovo to 27 points in the second half and rallied to the win. Eldar Alagic (2004) provided 15 points and 7 rebounds for Norway. Kosovo answered with 20 points and 11 rebounds from Bardh Istrefi (204-PF-2004).

Latvia - Hungary 64-58
Latvia toppled Hungary to snap three-game losing skid. The Baltic state recorded a 40-29 halftime advantage. Hungary cut the deficit at 3-point mark at the final break. But Latvia limited their opponents to just 13 points in the fourth quarter and raced to the first win. Frederiks Meinarts (213-C-2004) provided 17 points for Latvia. Peter Csataljay (192-G/F-2004) netted 12 points for Hungary.

Ukraine - Ireland 102-65
Ukraine cruised past Ireland to gain 2-1 record in Group A. Ukraine led by just 2 points at the big break 42-40. But they unloaded 60 points in the second half to cruise to the victory. Oleksandr Ponosov (187-G-2004) provided 19 points, while Vladyslav Nikolaichuk (199-F-2004) contributed 13 points in the victory. Aivaras Uosis (200-F-2005) answered with 18 points for Ireland.

Holland - Bulgaria 70-66
Netherlands nipped Bulgaria for the second in Blejoi. Netherlands opened a 38-27 halftime lead. Bulgaria narrowed the deficit in the second half but could not avoid the loss at the end. Florian-Marin Rijkers (208-C-2005) accounted for 18 points and 14 rebounds, while Latif Diouf (202-F-2005) had 16 points for Netherlands. Iliyan Pishtikov answered with 19 points for Bulgaria.

Finland - Cyprus 92-37
Finland coasted past Cyprus to gain 3-0 record in Group D. Finland led from start to finish. They established a 52-23 halftime lead. They held Cyprus to just 14 points in the second half and rallied to the win. Viljami Vartiainen (197-G/F-2004) came up with 18 points, while Morris Ugusuk (191-G-2004) added 16 points for Finland. Stefanos Tigkas (186-G-2005) delivered 11 points for Cyprus.

Georgia - Bosnia 79-75
Georgia overcame Bosnia to record the third win in Group B. Georgia sank 26 points in the second period to take a 42-34 halftime lead. They maintained the lead throughout the second half and raced to the win. Giorgi Ochkhikidze (190-PG-2004) produced 27 points, while Giorgi Sulaberidze (200-F/C-2004) had 14 points in the win. Afan Trnka (185-G-2004) banked in 21 points for Bosnia.

Switzerland - Romania 52-93
Romania stormed past Switzerland for 3-1 record in Group C. The hosts grabbed a 48-30 halftime lead. They held Switzerland to just 22 points in the second half and raced to the victory. David Patru (186-SG-2004) accounted for 15 points, while Dragos Lungu (196-SG-2004) added 14 points for Romania. Alois Leyrolles (190-G-2004) netted 16 points for Switzerland.

Austria - Belgium 49-82
Belgium breezed past Austria to deposit the third win in Romania. Belgium registered a 52-23 halftime lead. They limited Austria to 26 points in the second half and marched to the win at the end. Lukijan Zecevic (195-F/G-2005) dropped 14 points, while David Verstraeten (201-F-2004) contributed 13 points for Belgium. Omer Suljanovic (201-F-2005) had 13 points for Austria.

Slovakia - Portugal 48-76
Portugal knocked down Slovakia to gain the fourth consecutive win in Romania. Diogo Seixas (199-SG-2004) tallied 13 points and 11 rebounds for the winners. Portugal piled up a 21-13 lead after ten minutes. They went on a 37-16 run in the second half to ease to the win. Timotej Malovec (200-F-2004, agency: BeoBasket) and Daniel Koller (195-PF-2005) chipped in 14 points each for Slovakia.