In front of a lively crowd in Kaunas, Estonia edged Lithuania 110‑108 in an overtime thriller that kept the scoreboard ticking until the final buzzer. The match was more than a friendly contest; it served as a crucial rehearsal for the Baltic nation’s upcoming FIBA qualifiers.
Estonia jumped out to a 50‑49 lead at halftime and extended their advantage to 79‑75 by the close of the third quarter, showcasing a balanced attack that combined inside play with perimeter shooting.
A Turning Point in the Fourth Quarter
The fourth quarter turned into a back‑and‑forth battle, highlighted by Augustas Marciulionis’ deep three‑pointer that knotted the game at 83‑83, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
With 40 seconds remaining, Dominykas Stenionis knocked down a three‑pointer to put Lithuania ahead 107‑106, but Estonia’s composure shone as Kristian Kullamae drove to the basket and delivered a clutch two‑pointer to seal the win.
Kullamae finished with 21 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists, shooting a perfect 6‑of‑6 from the field and contributing to an Estonia team that went 11‑of‑26 from beyond the arc, with three players surpassing 20 points.
The victory serves as a timely boost for Estonia, who are slated to face the Arizona Wildcats and Michigan Wolverines in friendly fixtures on August 22 and 23 before turning their attention to the FIBA qualifiers against Turkey in Istanbul on August 28 and Bosnia and Herzegovina at home in Vilnius on August 31.