The Icelandic men’s national basketball team narrowly lost to Italy yesterday in its second game in Group B in the EuroBasket 2015 in Berlin, RÚV reports. The final score was 71-64 in Italy’s favor. It was an especially sore defeat, because with only three minutes remaining, Iceland led the game 62-59.
Coch Craig Petersen was almost at a loss for words after the game:
“I don’t know what to say. We fought so well, We’re fighting these giants and we almost beat Italy.”
Haukur Helgi Pálsson scored 17 points in the game and took five rebounds; Hlynur Bæringsson scored 14 points and had seven rebounds ; and Jón Arnór Stefánsson scored 11 points and had six assists.
The Eurobasket2015 website had positive words for the Icelandic team:
“Iceland showed once again that what they lack in size they make up for with heart and clever spacing and will not make it easy for anyone in their remaining games in Berlin.”
Iceland also lost narrowly to Germany, 71-65, in the first round on Saturday in the Mercedes Benz Arena, according to kki.is. The team now has two points in the championship.
Iceland plays Serbia, one the world’s strongest teams, tomorrow. The Serbian team ranks seventh on the FIBA world ranking list.
