EUROBASKET QUALIFIERS

Point guard Janis Strelnieks led a balanced Latvia offense with 13 points in the away victory that secured his nation a place at EuroBasket 2013

Latvia secured a place at EuroBasket 2013 with an 85-77 victory at Romania in their final Qualification Round game.

The victory sees Latvia improve to a 5-3 record in Group D, and they will go to Slovenia as one of the best third-placed teams of the Qualification Round.

Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia had clinched earlier first and second place respectively.

A strong start set up Latvia for victory as they scored nine unanswered points  and moved 12-1 up on Janis Strelnieks' three-pointer, less than three minutes into the game.

A three from Edgars Jeromanovs late in the first quarter made it 27-14 to put Latvia in complete control.

The continued to pull away in the second quarter, with a lay-up from Martins Meiers making it 36-19.

But Romania, already eliminated from contention, were not going to make it so easy for Latvia on their home turf, and they responded with a 10-0 run, closing it to 36-29 on Mihail-Octavian Paul's lay-up.

Latvia got it back to a double-digit lead and led 44-34 on a three-pointer from Davis Bertans at half-time, but Romania opened up the third quarter with a 6-0 spurt that closed it to 44-40 on Mihai Silvasan's jump-shot.

Latvia were able to resist, however, and began to ease away once more, leading 65-54 on a jump shot from Meiers to end the third quarter.

Jeromanovs' three made it 70-56 early in the fourth, and although Romania finished strongly, they could not catch up.

Strelnieks led Latvia with 14 points while Kaspars Berzins had 13, the Bertans brothers 11 each and Meiers 11 also.

Silvasan led Romania with 19 points while Catalin Baciu added 14, Paul and Rares Mandache 10 apiece.