Ireland battle to over-time victory against Cyprus

Ireland 83-75 Cyprus

Ireland showed their resilience with a strong over-time performance to defeat Cyprus in their FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers game at the National Basketball Arena.

It was their second win of the campaign and leaves them third in Group A with a 2-2 record and still in contention to advance to the next stage of qualification, going into their games in June and July against Austria and Switzerland, who both have 3-1 records.

Ireland powered home in over-time, responding to the disappointment of conceding a Cypriot leveller with two seconds remaining in the final quarter, which made it 64-64.

Roy Downey hit eight points in over-time, including two three point jump shots. The C&S Neptune player finished on 16 points, to go with his two rebounds and five assists in his second senior international.

It was a fine all-round performance by Ireland - Jordan Blount finished with 16 points, five rebounds and five assists, John Carroll had 17 points, 11 rebounds and two assists and Taiwo Badmus contributed 14 points, 12 rebounds and two assists.

It was an even opening quarter, Badmus got Ireland's first points, a three point jump shot in the fourth minute to put them 3-2 up. Carroll had a strong start, picking up six points in the first quarter.

A nice three point jump shot in the seventh minute from Sean Flood made it 10-10, it would be 15 apiece at the end of the quarter.

The start of the second quarter mirrored the first, however Adrian O’Sullivan’s three with a little over three minutes to go gave Ireland a 28-26 advantage - it was the start of a 13-point scoring run.

Flood slotted home his second from the three-point line 30 seconds later, it was followed by lay-ups from Blount and Carroll. The half was finished