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China leaves basketball worlds after Lithuania loss

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-09-08 09:10

China's Liu Wei (2nd R) goes up to shoot past compatriot Zhou Peng (L), Lithuania's Jonas Maciulis (2nd L) and Martynas Gecevicius (R) during their FIBA Basketball World Championship game in Istanbul, September 7, 2010.  [Photo/Agencies]

ISTANBUL - China ended the world basketball championships campaign in Turkey after losing 78-67 to the undefeated Lithuanian team here on Tuesday.

Lithuania will now take on Argentina, who beat Brazil 93-89, in the quarterfinal.

China started out Tuesday's game strong, ending the first quarter with a 22-17 lead.

The game remained close in the second quarter, with China maintaining its narrow lead until 5 minutes left, when Lithuania brought the score to 32-31.

The first half ended with a narrow Lithuanian lead of 43-40.

China equalized a couple times in the third quarter, bringing the score to 45-45 with eight minutes left, then 48-48 once again with seven minutes left, but was never able to get ahead again for the rest of the game.

Lithuania picked up significant momentum with 6 minutes left, ending the third quarter 64-51 ahead.

China would narrow the gap during the fourth quarter, even bring the score to 67-62 with 5 minutes left, but would eventually fall apart, ending the game 11 points behind the Baltic team.

Linas Kleiza was the top-scorer of the game, netting 30 points for Lithuania. Meanwhile, China's Liu Wei was top-scorer for his team with 21 points.