- You can check out the moments from the game in our photo gallery.
This was the second victory for the Lithuanians while Canada lost for the second time in a row.
Leo Rautins' players held a 17-point lead in the middle of the third period at 56-39 but Lithuania finally stepped up on defense and increased the intensity to go on a 16-1 run, which allowed the Baltic Giants to get within two point at the end of the third (55-57).
Tomas Delininkaitis and Renaldas Seibutis were one of the most important players during the stretch bringing a much-needed energy boost of the bench, which brought chaos in to the Canadian game.
It was Delininkaitis three pointer that gave the Lithuanians their first taste of the lead at 58-57.
The difference between the sides see-sawed around that margin until the climax of the game. Lithuania had a two-point lead at 70-68 with 30 seconds on the clock and the ball in their hands.
Kalnietis fired off a crazy tear-drop shot with the end of the shot-clock leaving the Canadians five seconds, which was enough for them to get the ball across the court and fire off a well-guarded three-pointer. Luckily for Lithuania, Jermaine Anderson missed the decisive shot.
Lithuania: Linas Kleiza 18 (10 rebounds), Martynas Pocius 11 (4 assists), Tomas Delininkaitis 11, Jonas Mačiulis 8, Mantas Kalnietis 7, Tadas Klimavičius 7.
Canada: Jermaine Anderson 15 (5 assists), Joel Anthony 12, Denham Brown 11, Levon Kendall 9.Kęstutis Kemzūra (head coach of Lithuania):“We couldn’t make a shot despite having a lot of shooters. I have to say Canada came into the game prepared well tactically – we had to search for other ways to win the game. I’m happy with the men, who showed character, the fighting spirit and didn’t give up trying.”
