EUROBASKET 2011

Turning Point: It was a close race with the score tied on 12 occasions and as many as 18 lead changes, the last of which was inside the last 63 seconds. Deyan Ivanov's jumper put Bulgaria on top for the last time.

Game Hero: Down 65-63 inside the last 1:40, Filip Videnov missed a shot at the end of the shot clock and it didn't look good for Bulgaria but Deyan Ivanov stepped up with a huge offensive rebound, then followed with a steal and nailed a mid-range jumper to put Bulgaria on top for the last time.

Stats Don't Lie: Bulgaria had much more focus in the small details today and it showed at the free-throw line. No less than 19 made foul shots on 83% made a difference in favour of Bulgaria against only 10 made free-throws by Belgium on 67%.

9,851 days passed since Bulgaria last won a EuroBasket game and that count came to an end on Thursday following a 68-65 victory over Belgium in Group D of the championship in Klaipeda.

Bulgaria now jump to a 1-1 record while Belgium fell to 0-2 at the bottom of the group for now.

It was a great clutch performance by Deyan Ivanov who did everything right for his team in the closing 93 seconds.

"I didn't play well for 30 minutes but I'm happy I managed to step up in the right moments and help our team win this game.

"We are so happy to finally win in EuroBasket after all this time."

Deyan missed all his first nine shots from the floor, before making a crucial jumper and finish the game with a total of three points.

He also doubled his rebounds to six in the last 2:03 minutes and made his only steal just when it mattered.

EJ Rowland was once again on fire with 22 points while Filip Videnov added 17 with eight rebounds.

Belgium saw Sam Van Rossom collect 17 points, Christophe Beghin added 13 and Thomas Van den Spiegel finished with 12 and eight boards.

It was a close game for 40 minutes.

The score was tied 12 times and the lead changed hands no less than 18 times, the last of which was just before the closing minutes.

Belgium seemed to be in control after Beghin hit a tough shot to put his team on top 63-65 with 2:36 to play.

A great defensive effort forced Videnov to beat the shot clock in a bad situation but the offensive rebound landed in the hands of Deyan Ivanov and now Videnov tied the score from the foul line.

Deyan continued with a steal on the following play and with 1:03 released an accurate mid-range jumper for his first points of the night that made it 67-65.

He added yet another rebound and completed the win from the charity stripe with two seconds on the clock.

After the rest day Bulgaria will take on Ukraine while Belgium will play the last game of Day 3 against Russia.