EUROBASKET QUALIFIERS

Kaspars Berzins was the top scorer for Latvia with 21 points

Latvia boosted their prospects of playing at next year's EuroBasket with an 86-81 Qualification Round victory at the Netherlands.

Kaspars Berzins scored 21 points and Rihards Kuksiks chipped in 18 for the Baltic side, which improved to 4-2 in Group D.

The result dropped the Dutch to 2-5.

The home side dug themselves an early hole and trailed by 20 points near the midway point of the second quarter.

The Dutch never gave up, though, and battled back.

A pair of Robin Smeulders free-throws for the Netherlands cut the visitors' lead to 84-81 with 36 seconds to go.

They had a chance to draw even closer after Dairis Bertans missed a shot from the arc for Latvia, but he chased down the offensive rebound and Smeulders fouled him in the act of shooting.

Bertans sank both free-throws with 11 seconds to go for the five-point triumph.

Latvia play at home against Georgia on Saturday and then finish their Qualification Round campaign at Romania.