Lithuania's 'B' team, featuring Valmiera's Steņonis, stuns University of Arizona
Lithuania's experimental national 'B' basketball team, featuring Valmiera club player Dominiks Steņonis, defeated the University of Arizona 99:88 in Jonava. Steņonis contributed 11 points and ten assists to the win.
An experimental Lithuanian national 'B' basketball squad pulled off a surprising win over one of the strongest college teams in the United States, defeating the University of Arizona 'Wildcats' 99:88 in Jonava.
Arizona had opened its most recent NCAA season with 23 consecutive wins and went on to reach the semifinals of March Madness, finishing the campaign with an overall record of 36 wins and just three losses.
How the game unfolded
The Lithuanians took control early, building a 13-point lead in the first quarter (28:15) and taking a 54:37 advantage into halftime. After the break, the hosts' lead grew as large as 20 points (61:41) at one stage, but the American visitors clawed back and prevented the gap from widening further.
Arizona's top scorer was 19-year-old Ivan Kharchenkov, who also represents Bayern Munich's academy, with 25 points. The American roster also included two Lithuanian-born players — 21-year-old Motiejus Krivas, who scored ten points, and 23-year-old Ugnius Jaruševičius, who added eight.
For the Lithuanian side, Jonava club forward Matas Repšys led all scorers with 24 points. Valmiera club player Dominiks Steņonis, a winner of major trophies during his career, contributed 11 points along with ten assists.
The University of Arizona's tour continues today in Kėdainiai against Ukraine's national team, coached by Ainars Bagatskis, before facing Lithuania's senior national team in Alytus on Saturday.
