By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Manila, Philippines – It was back in the 2004 Olympics when Lithuania led by Sarunas Jasikevicius beat the USA by four (94-90).
This time the final point margin was even bigger as Lithuania got the 110-104 win and stayed perfect with a 5-0 record, becoming the first team to beat the US in this tournament.
Vaidas Kariniauskas had 15 points, Mindauhas Kuzminskas added 14, Jonas Valanciunas had 12 points and seven rebounds,
For the USA, Anthony Edwards was a one-man offense with 35 points, but this was not enough.
With Valanciuas scoring 11 points in the first half and Lithuania starting the game with 9/9 threes, the Baltic team got a 31-12 lead in the first period and a 54-47 advantage at halftime.
Watch the upcoming World Cup on the official streaming service of FIBA! Join Courtside 1891 and never miss a second of the action!
Edwards with 16 first-half points was keeping his team alive, but things changed in the second half.
With a 15-2 run, the USA made it a four-point game (56-52). Still, Lithuania managed to keep the lead until the end of the third (71-65) quarter.
Despite a furious effort by Edwards on the offense and by the whole team on defense, Lithuania held on. With five minutes left in the game, the score was 89-85 in favor of them.
And while the US was almost in sticking distance, Lithuania always found the way, even with a three at the buzzer by Kuzminskas while he almost fumbled the ball, to make it a nine-point game (94-85). The USA fought until the closing seconds, stopping the clock with fouls, but Lithuania managed to stay ahead for the win.
In the quarterfinals, Lithuania will play against Serbia, and the USA will face Italy.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL