EUROBASKET 2011

Turning Point: Down by 47-37 in the third quarter, F.Y.R. of Macedonia showed great spirit to fight back. They were asked a big question and they answered in style.

Game Heroes: While a great team performance by F.Y.R. of Macedonia, Vlado Ilievski made the play that mattered by showing great composure in the dying seconds to execute. He also scored 18 points in the game.

Stats Don't Lie: In a tight game and with relatively quick guards, just one single steal was never going to be sufficient.

F.Y.R. Of Macedonia survived a last-gasp buzzer beater by Bojan Bogandovic to see-off Croatia in a real thriller.

Having trailed by double digits during the third quarter, F.Y.R. of Macedonia completed a great fight-back to claim a memorable 78-76 victory and their first of the tournament.

Boosted by having the influential Todor Gechevski back in their starting line-up, intense defence allowed them to build a 21-15 advantage, albeit helped along the way by a technical foul called on Croatian coach Josip Vrankovic.

However, Bogdanovic got one to drop from way downtown on the buzzer to cut the deficit in half at the quarter break.

The introductions of Damir Markota and Marko Popovic gave Croatia added impetus and they helped their team to a 41-37 advantage as the teams headed to the locker rooms.

When Bogdanovic and Markota both converted from three-point range to start the second half, the Croatians had eased their way 47-37 ahead and it looked ominous for F.Y.R. of Macedonia.

However they dug deep and really put their foot on the gas and fought back well with a great finish to the third quarter.

A three-ball by Vlado Ilievski then handed them a 63-62 lead early in the fourth and it set up a terrific and nerve jangling finale as both teams tried to break the game open.

With the scores tied with just 11 seconds remaining in the game, Ilievski penetrated and got a running jumper to drop.

It proved to be the game winner as Bogdanovic rimmed out as he tried to win the game for Croatia.