By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Ukraine claimed a 96-92 victory over Lithuania in a World Cup qualifying warm-up game in Šiauliai, led by an outstanding performance from Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk.
The former NBA wing scored 26 points in just 18 minutes, connecting on 7-of-13 from beyond the arc. Oleksandr Kovliar added 23 points and eight rebounds as Ukraine withstood Lithuania’s late comeback after surrendering a nine-point fourth-quarter lead.
For Lithuania, the game marked the senior national team debuts of two of the country’s brightest young talents, Matas Buzelis and Kasparas Jakučionis. Jakučionis impressed with a 12-point, 10-assist double-double, while Buzelis finished with 9 points and 6 rebounds.
Veteran NBA center Jonas Valančiūnas contributed 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Ąžuolas Tubelis led the hosts in scoring with 28 points.
Lithuania erased a nine-point deficit to tie the game at 87-87 with under four minutes remaining, but Ukraine answered with a decisive 6-0 run and held on to seal the win.
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