Xanthopoulos Masterclass Fuels Greece Past Türkiye
Giannos Xanthopoulos delivered a commanding performance to spearhead Greece to a decisive 73-56 victory over Türkiye at the Arena Stožice.
In this FIBA U20 EuroBasket clash, Greece seized control early, establishing a 15-point lead by halftime (25-40) and maintaining a substantial 15-point advantage entering the final quarter (39-54).
The Greek surge was most pronounced in the second quarter, where they outscored Türkiye 25-10 to build an insurmountable lead. Greece ultimately prevailed 73-56, converting 45% of their field goals (25/55) compared to Türkiye's 37% (23/62). While Türkiye's bench outscored Greece's 29-17, the Greeks dominated the boards with a 39-22 rebounding advantage and shot an efficient 79% from the free-throw line (15/19).
Xanthopoulos led the Greek charge with 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks, complemented by Panagiotis Pagonis' double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds, alongside 6 assists. For Türkiye, Omer Kutluay came off the bench for 14 points, and Yagiz Aksu added 13 points and 2 steals. This Greek triumph serves as a significant statement in the tournament.