ALLAN THE MAN

Teams fighting for their EuroBasket 2013 lives and trying to stay in the hunt for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup claimed important victories in Jesenice on Friday.

Surprising Ukraine also remained unbeaten with a late win over Germany. Bosnia and Herzegovina and The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (MKD) went into Group B action on the back of two defeats and needing wins.

BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA vs MONTENEGRO.

Bosnia and Herzegovina took on Montenegro and despite trailing 59-49 heading into the last quarter, managed to win. They outscored Luka Pavicevic's team 27-11 in the last frame for a 76-70 triumph. 

Nikola Vucevic started the last quarter with a jumper to extend the advantage to 12 for Montenegro, but Mirza Teletovic sparked the winning comeback.

The Brooklyn Nets forward drilled a three-pointer and Nemanja Gordic followed with another to reduce the arrears to six. Gordic put Bosnia and Herzegovina in front to stay with a lay-up just 3:56 from the end. The result has left both teams with 1-2 records.

MACEDONIA vs SERBIA.

MKD, who fell to Montenegro on opening day and then lost to Lithuania, led Serbia by 25 points on Friday night before posting a 89-75 victory. Bo McCalebb had 16 of his game-high 27 points in the first half for MKD.

LITHUANIA vs LATVIA.

Lithuania won for the second time, beating Latvia, 67-59, in the Baltic derby in Group B's first game of the day. Jonas Kazlauskas' team went in front by 13 late in the first half, only for the Latvians to battle back and knot the contest at 45-45 six minutes into the third quarter. Darjus Lavrinovic then sparked a decisive 7-0 run for Lithuania with a three-pointer.

UKRAINE vs GERMANY.

In Group A, Ukraine had a nine-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter but couldn't put the Germans away. A Niels Giffey three-ball with 3:56 to go put Germany in front. The game was tied at 76-76 when Sergii Gladyr buried a jumper for Ukraine and Mike Fratello's team stayed in front the rest of the way for an 88-83 win.

Gladyr had a game-high 25 points for Ukraine, who sit alone at the top of Group A as its only unbeaten side heading into the off-day for Groups A and B.

BELGIUM vs GREAT BRITAIN.

Belgium had to dig deep to overcome Great Britain, 76-71, in the pool's second game of the day. The Brits, who stunned Israel on opening day before falling to France on Thursday, opened up an seven-point advantage early in the second half.

Eddy Casteels' team fought back and went in front for good with 4:16 left when Axel Hervelle made a lay-up. Great Britain lost despite getting 19 points and nine rebounds from Dan Clark. Sam Van Rossom had 12 points, five assists, five rebounds and a couple of steals for Belgium.

FRANCE vs ISRAEL.

France piled on the misery for Israel, beating Arik Shivek's team 82-63. Alexis Ajinca led a balanced attack for France with 13 points.

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