EUROBASKET 2011

Spain may have lost in Lithuania this week in the build-up to the EuroBasket but on Saturday night in Malaga they hit back with a 73-61 win against Slovenia.

Paul Gasol had 15 points and 10 rebounds and brother Marc contributed 14 points as the Spaniards rolled.

Spain out-rebounded the visitors, 45-37.

Sergio Scariolo, the Spain coach, was encouraged by his team's play ahead of the EuroBasket, which begins on August 31.

"We had moments of good defensive intensity and others were we passed the ball well," Scariolo said. We have played another game and we are getting closer to the tournament, taking further steps in our preparation."

Spain were just two of 10 (20%) from behind the arc and 21 of 32 (65.63%), but Scariolo said: "I am not worried about our low shooting percentage from long range and the free-throw line.

"It is true that we missed a few but it's nothing to be concerned about."

Matjaz Smodis and Goran Dragic finished with 11 points apiece for Slovenia.

The teams meet again on Sunday in Granada.

Brits Finally Win, Deng Plays

It took four games, but Great Britain at last won a game at the London Invitational Tournament with a 64-56 triumph over China on Saturday.

Luol Deng played for the first time and had 15 points and five rebounds.

More importantly, Joel Freeland played 23 minutes after leaving Thursday's game against Serbia with an unspecified injury.

Freeland showed his value to the British by scoring 18 points and corralling 13 rebounds.

"It was a tough game for us tonight, but we got the win which has eluded us recently," Britain coach Chris Finch said.

"A lot of it was down to Joel and his rebounding and the opportunities he grabbed. It was close late in the game, but it went well for us."

In the first game of the day, France thrashed Croatia 83-60 with Tony Parker scoring 12 points.

Serbia also lost to Australia, 78-69, despite heading into the last four minutes of the game with a 65-61 lead.

Nenad Krstic had 17 points for Serbia.

FYR Of Macedonia Prevail

FYR Of Macedonia claimed a 79-74 victory over Montenegro in a friendly played in the first game of the Trophy Macedonia 2011.

Montenegro got a game-high 23 points from Nikola Pekovic, while Bo McCalebb had 16 points for the winners.