Lithuania Beats China To Advanced To Quarters

ISTANBUL (2010 FIBA World Championship) – Linas Kleiza scored 13 of his game-high 30 points in the fourth quarter as Lithuania held off a late China rally for a 78-67 win and booked their place in the Quarter-Finals of the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

Kestutis Kemzura’s team will face Argentina in the Quarter Finals.

Lithuania led 64-51 to start the fourth quarter but Yi Jianlian, Liu Wei and Wang Zhizhi accounted for all the points in an 11-3 spurt that saw China get within 67-62 with five minutes remaining.

However, Kleiza made sure they did not get any closer by hitting timely buckets down the stretch.

The Chinese got off to a good start thanks to some balanced scoring and made the most of their opponents’ early turnovers to build a 16-5 lead on Liu Wei’s three-pointer.

The Lithuanians turned the ball over five times in the game’s first 6:15. They eventually settled down and, riding the scoring punch of Kleiza and Simas Jaisatis, cut the deficit to 19-17 on the latter’s lay-up in the final minute of the first period. Liu Wei knocked down a jumper just before the buzzer for a 22-17 lead.

Bob Donewald Jr’s charges stretched their advantage back up to nine, 29-20, early in the second period as Yi scored four quick points and Sue Yue connected from long range.

Lithuania fought back and a 10-0 run spearheaded by Mantas Kalnietis saw them go in front 36-31.

Zhou Peng ended a Chinese scoring drought that went on for 2:45 and Wei again beat the buzzer in the final seconds of the period, cutting the deficit to 43-40 at the break.

Yi tied the game at 45 early in the second half, before Martynas Gecevicius and Wei traded three-point baskets.

Lithuania then went on an 11-0 run, capped by a Martinas Pocius basket, for a 59-48 cushion. Paulius Jankunas converted a three-point play and Pocius’ reverse lay-up made it 64-51 heading into the final frame.

FIBA.com