EUROBASKET 2011

Turning Point: It was always going to be an uphill struggle for Georgia the moment star man Zaza Pachulia was confirmed as an absentee. Other than that, Bo McCalebb was the man of the moment as he converted with the killer play down the stretch.

Game Heroe: Bo McCalebb led the way of F.Y.R. of Macedonia with 27 points, 4 assists and 4 steals and again proved difficult to guard as he executed the game winning play.

Stats Don't Lie: F.Y.R. of Macedonia had many more steals and far fewer turnovers.

For F.Y.R. of Macedonia this was the perfect day to edge closer to history and stand on the brink of the quarter-finals for the very first time.

Their dramatic 65-63 success over Georgia thanks to a last gasp McCalebb score means they have one foot in Kaunas to give everyone back home an extra reason to cheer on Independence Day.

Georgia fought hard and made it tricky for F.Y.R. of Macedonia who blew a 14-point second half lead but without Zaza Pachulia, Georgia just didn't have enough to complete a fine comeback.

Having trailed 9-4 during the initial exchanges, F.Y.R. of Macedonia held Georgia to just one point in almost eight minutes and that provided the platform to establish an 18-12 lead early in the second period.

Having scored 11 points inside the first five minutes of the game, Georgia continued to labour badly and managed to rack up a paltry five points during the next 12 minutes. It meant they found themselves down by double digits at 24-14 and with serious work to do.

Shortly after George Tsintsadze suffered a lower leg injury, Georgia were also picked up their defence and completed a stirring fight-back as they came alive at the other end of the floor.

They clawed back the deficit and even took a 35-34 lead early in the third period thanks to a triple by Nikoloz Tskitishvili.

F.Y.R. of Macedonia then exploded with a devastating spell to go 52-38 ahead although their joy was tempered as Vlado Ilievski picked up his fourth foul.

Georgia managed to claw their way back in the final quarter to give F.Y.R. of Macedonia an almighty scare before McCalebb rounded off an impressive performance with the game winning basket.