© FIBA
Powered by a 38-point performance from Ben Kovac, the Luxembourg men's basketball team defeated Ireland 89-77 to start their EuroBasket 2029 pre-qualifying campaign on a high note.
The Luxembourg men's national basketball team opened their EuroBasket 2029 pre-qualifying campaign with a hard-fought 89-77 victory over Ireland on Thursday evening.
Playing in front of 1,200 spectators at the Coque in Kirchberg, the FLBB selection started strong, building a commanding 26-11 lead by the end of the first quarter. The team was powered by a dominant performance from Ben Kovac, who had already scored 22 points by halftime. Although Ireland found their rhythm in the second quarter to narrow the deficit, Luxembourg maintained a comfortable 47-37 lead at the break.
© FIBA
Ireland mounted a comeback after halftime, leveraging a stronger presence under the basket and effective rebounding. Their accurate three-point shooting allowed them to level the score by the start of the fourth quarter, setting the stage for a tense finale.
However, Luxembourg proved resilient in the closing minutes. Key plays from Rugg and Kovac helped them pull decisively ahead, securing the victory after several hard-fought final possessions.
Ben Kovac finished as the game's top scorer with 38 points, while Oliver Vujakovic scored 19. In a separate ceremony after the first quarter, Thomas Grün was honoured by the FLBB for his long-standing service to the national team.
© FLBB
Luxembourg's next match is away against Azerbaijan on Sunday at 3pm.
