EUROBASKET QUALIFIERS

Bosnia and Herzegovina nicked their opening win of the EuroBasket qualifying round in a thrilling finish against Latvia.

Mirza Teletovic and Bosnia and Herzegovina kicked off their qualifying campaign with an important home win

Latvia led most of the fourth quarter, and were up by as many as six with Dairis Bertans' free throws making it 74-68 with 6:21 on the clock.

But the Bosnians responded with a 7-0 run to edge ahead on Nihad Dedovic's lay-up as the game went to the wire.

The teams were all tied up 80-80 with 1:52 to go. Elmedin Kikanovic split a pair of free throws for Bosnia before Kaspars Berzins took the lead back with a jump-shot.

Mirza Teletovic missed a three for Bosnia but Dairis Bertans did likewise for Latvia and Janis Strelnieks wasted Mareks Mejeris' offensive rebound with a turnover, allowing Dalibor Persic to lay it in for Bosnia and put them 83-82 up.

After Dairis Bertans missed again for Latvia, Zackary Wright padded the Bosnian lead with a jump-shot.

Dairis Bertans went to the line to make two free throws to close the gap to 85-84 with four seconds left, but after a quick foul Dedovic hit back for Bosnia to put the game out of reach.

Teletovic led Bosnia with 24 points while Wright added 20 with 11 rebounds.

Kikanovic had 18 and Dedovic 15.

Strelnieks had 18 points for Latvia with Dairis Bertans adding 17 and Davis Bertans 13.