Ireland 79-76 Luxembourg
Ireland dug deep to secure a dramatic come-from-behind win over Luxembourg at a sold-out National Basketball Arena and secure second spot in Group G of the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers.
There were several big performances from the squad, notably from Jordan Blount who finished with 16 points, 14 rebounds and six assists. CJ Fulton also caught the eye, picking up 16 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Ireland certainly didn't have it their own way. They lost the influential Blount for the closing stages and trailed by a point with a minute to go, but still emerged victorious.
Ireland made an excellent start with Fulton scoring five points in the opening two minutes - a pair of free throws and a three-point jump shot – which helped put Ireland 8-4 ahead. Ireland were 17-8 up near the midpoint, after some swift link-up play set Sean Flood up for a three, followed by Neal Quinn landing a turnaround jump shot shortly afterwards.
Luxembourg called a timeout, but Ireland continued to find joy from the three-point line, Taiwo Badmus and another from Fulton leaving them 23-10 in front.
Luxembourg dragged themselves back into the contest, but Flood had the last points of the quarter to put Ireland 29-20 up. The visitors however had momentum and they took the lead, 31-30, in the fourth minute of the second quarter through Axel Laurent’s lay-up.
Ireland offence wasn’t having much joy in the second quarter. A five-point run by Jordan Blount helped get Ireland back level at 36-36 but eight seconds later Luxembourg captain Laurent converted from the three-point line.
Fulton converted a much-needed three with 13 seconds to go in the half, which saw Ireland behind 43-41 at half-time, Fulton’s tally at 11 points by the break.
Blount continued where he left off in the third quarter, his back-to-back lay-ups propelling Ireland back in front. A neat pass from Quinn and a Lorcan Murphy lay-up through traffic saw him make it 56-49 thanks to the additional converted free throw.
Luxembourg responded with a 14-point run, Bob Melcher’s long three and a Laurent dunk among their scorers. Ireland needed points and Murphy provided it with a two-point jump shot from the corner in the dying seconds of the third quarter, to trail 63-59 at the end it.
Sam Alajiki’s lay-up made it a two-point game at the start of the fourth quarter. Luxembourg however weren’t going to roll over, Melcher’s layup put them up 65-61. A brilliant Alajiki block was followed by a John Carroll lay-up and it was 65-63 with less than two minutes gone.
The tense contest was level once more, at 68-68 following a three from the corner by Alajiki.
Ireland lost the influential Blount with three minutes remaining, an unsportsmanlike foul was his fifth offence. It was a big blow, but undeterred Ireland responded with a brilliant three from Fulton, which brought the home crowd to their feet.
A Badmus lay-up saw Ireland move 74-70 up with two minutes to go, to prompt a Luxembourg timeout.
Lán ama / Full-time
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🇮🇪 Éire - 79
🇱🇺 Lucsamburg - 76
Cad é mar teacht aniar ag na hÉireannaigh!
And Ireland hold out, a huge win at home. Ireland finish second in their group ☘️ @BballIrl | #Greenmeansgo #EuroBasket
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There was still plenty of drama. A nerveless three from Clancy Rugg put Luxembourg back ahead, 75-74. with 63 seconds remaining and brought his personal tally to 27 points in the process.
The imposing Quinn converted from close in after Badmus’ lay-up didn’t drop, edging Ireland back into the lead, and ten seconds later Badmus converted one of his two free throws to make it a two- point game.
Rugg’s lay-up attempt for Luxembourg uncharacteristically failed to drop. At the other end Fulton earned an offensive foul and cooly slotted his two free throws and Ireland’s advantage was four points, 79-75, with eight seconds to go and that was to prove enough.
Head coach Mark Keenan said: "We had our moments in the game but credit to the guys, lots of teams would have folded with five minutes to go.
"We just hung in the game and switched to zone defence, it gave us a good few stops and then just converting at the end.
"Our defensive rebounding when we needed it, the zone they definitely couldn’t handle. I am delighted for the guys, it could easily have gone the other way, but we hung right into the end."
