EUROBASKET QUALIFIERS

Jon Stefansson would not take a second straight loss - the shooting guard had 28 points to lead Iceland to an important away win in Slovakia

Jon Stefansson poured in 28 points as Iceland came storming back in the fourth quarter to upset the Slovak Republic, 81-75, in Levice.

A big third quarter sent the hosts into the final stanza with a five-point lead, but that was quickly wiped out in a 10-0 Iceland run.

The visitors then built a double-digit lead of their own before a late Slovak Republic rally ran out of time.

Iceland, coming off an opening loss to Serbia, impressed in the first half, and they scored the final four points to take a 44-36 lead into the locker room at the break.

Stefansson's jump-shot straight after the break made it a double-digit lead but the third quarter would belong to the Slovaks as they responded with an 18-0 run, capped by Anton Gavel's three, that made it 54-46.

That looked to have turned the momentum completely and another three from Gavel gave them a 59-52 lead with 32 seconds left in the third.

But Iceland would score the next 10 to lead 62-59 on Stefansson's three, and another 11-0 spurt made it 75-63 on Stefansson's three with 2:50 left in the game.

The Slovaks tried to cut into the lead, and scored the final six points of the game unanswered, but Iceland had already done enough.

Haukar Palsson added 16 points for Iceland and Jakob Sigurdarson had 15, with Hlynur Baeringsson collecting 13.

The Slovak Republic wasted 31 points from Gavel and 14 from Roman Marko.

The Slovaks are now 0-2 in Group A with plenty of work to do.