Lithuanian Olympic basketball team rip Nigeria to stay unbeaten
Lithuania's Mantas Kalnietis (R) tries to pass Nigeria's Al-Farouq Aminu during their men's Group B basketball match, at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, on August 9. By Andrej Isakovic (AFP)
Rio de Janeiro (AFP) - Mantas Kalnietis and Jonas Maciulis each scored 21 points and Lithuania held off a late fightback to defeat Nigeria 89-80 and stay unbeaten in Rio Olympics men's basketball.
Kalnietis also passed out 12 assists as Lithuania on Tuesday shut down a late rally for the second game in a row, having withstood a late charge to beat Brazil 82-76.
This time, Nigerian captain Ige Diogu, a former NBA player, scored five points in an 11-5 run that pulled the African squad within 84-79 with 47 seconds remaining.
Maciulis, who had seven points in a 12-0 third-quarter run that gave Lithuania the lead for good, and Kalnietis each sank late free throws to squash the comeback bid.