EUROBASKET QUALIFIERS

Belgium held off Poland in the second half as they opened their EuroBasket qualifying campaign with a 64-57 win in Group E.

Marcin Gortat's efforts were not enough for Poland in Sopot

Poland had led most of the first half before a 9-0 Belgian run late in the second had them up 33-29 on Sam Van Rossom's jump-shot, and the teams went into the locker room all tied up at 33-33.

Lukasz Koszarek got the opening points of the second half for Poland, but neither side broke free as Przemyslaw Zamojski tied it once again at 40-40 with 3:19 left in the third period.

But Belgium then responded by scoring the final nine points of the period, with Maxime De Zeeuw's three-pointer making it 49-40 on the buzzer.

De Zeeuw stretched the lead further with the opening points of the fourth quarter before Koszarek's lay-up ended the run.

Belgium were up 56-47 on Christophe Beghin's jump-shot with 4:33 to go, but Poland launched one last rally to try and get back in front.

Koszarek's free throws started it, and when he hit a three-pointer with 2:13 to go it was a two-point game again, 56-54.

Van Rossom and Beghin stretched Belgium's lead and after Marcin Gortat split his free throws they pulled further clear on a three-point play from De Zeeuw, making it 63-55 with 34 seconds left and effectively sealing the win.

Van Rossom led Belgium with 13 points while De Zeeuw and Wen Mukubu had 11 each and Beghin 10.

Gortat had 23 points for Poland with Koszarek adding 12.