EuroBasket qualifier defeat for Irish as Swiss finish strong

Ireland are once again lamenting a clinical three-point shooting performance from their opponents, as they lost their closing FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifier against Switzerland 88-82, dropping to 2-4 overall in their first taste of action at this level.

Ireland led by nine at one stage in the second quarter, but a third period in which they were outgunned 30-18 proved to be the difference at the buzzer. Taiwo Badmus led the scoring charts for Ireland once more, adding 23 to his overall tally to bring it to 107 at the close of pre-qualifying.

Jordan Blount battled through the pain barrier to contribute 18, while Lorcan Murphy added a very valuable 14 from the bench.

Buoyed by a sell-out crowd at the National Basketball Arena, Ireland started on the front foot and raced into a 10-6 lead on the back of three-point shots from Sean Flood and CJ Fulton. At the half-way point in the first quarter, Switzerland began to find their feet and reduced the deficit to a solitary point, 12-11.

The remainder of the quarter was end to end. Both sides traded four-point runs. The highlight for Ireland coming in the shape of a monster put-back dunk by Aidan Harris Igiehon with 1:04 to go, bringing the entire arena to its feet. However, Switzerland responded with a strong six-point run to the buzzer, leaving the score 25-25.

The second quarter continued the back-and-forth nature of the contest. Ireland edged back in front through an early Taiwo Badmus three off the back of an opportunistic steal by a combative Will Hanley.

As the clock ticked passed the halfway mark of the second quarter, Switzerland's impressive guard Roberto Kovac started to find his range from the three-point arc.

He would go on to record nine-points and three assists in the