EUROBASKET QUALIFIERS

Point guard Dairis Bertans led the Latvian offense with 25 points and added six assists and nine rebounds

Latvia gained sweet revenge for their heart-breaking opening night loss to Group D EuroBasket qualification rivals Bosnia and Herzegovina by registering a fine 80-64 win in Riga.

Having lost 87-84 right at the death in front of 7,000 fans in Sarajevo earlier in the month, this was just the way to erase that memory as Latvia trashed their opponent on the glass to take a stranglehold of the game during the middle two quarters.

The visitors sneaked in front 19-16 at the end of the first period, but a blistering 26-11 second quarter turned the game on its' head as Latvia took the initiative, much to the delight of home fans.

And, when they returned to the court for the third quarter and started the second half with a score by Arturs Berzins and then a three-pointer by Rihards Kuksiks, there only ever looked like being one winner - and so it proved.

Dairis Bertans found a perfect time to record his highest ever score in a senior national team vest with a game-high 25 points which complimented an excellent nine rebounds and six assists.

He was well supported by Martins Meiers who contributed an efficient 16 points while Zackary Wright and Nihad Dedovic both also claimed 16 points each for the losing team.