Ireland slip to EuroBasket 2025 defeat against Austria

Ireland succumbed to a 92-66 loss against Austria in their FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers in Salzburg.

Taiwo Badmus, who has been Ireland's leading scorer in the campaign, topped the scoring charts again, adding another 15 to his tally to bring it to 84 in the five qualifiers so far. CJ Fulton also caught the eye on his EuroBasket debut, with 10 points.

The visitors started brightly, Fulton got their first points in the second minute to make it 2-2. Midway through the quarter it was 10 apiece, following a three point jump shot by Jordan Blount and two free throws from the lively Badmus. However, 60 seconds later Austria established a seven point advantage, their run completed by Thomas Kelpeisz’s three-point pullup jump shot.

Ireland responded with an impressive 12-point run. It included a great steal and assist by Jordan Blount to set up a trademark dunk for Lorcan Murphy and they trailed 17-16 with 2’42 to go in the first. A pair of three point jump shots followed, from Taiwo Badmus and captain Sean Flood, which gave Ireland a 22-17 lead with a little over a minute to go in the opening quarter, however Austria finished it strongly and moved 23-22 ahead and never looked back after that.

A pair of Renato Poljak three point jump shots, which brought his personal total to 11, made it 33-26 three minutes into the second quarter. Ireland struggled from the free throw line at times and in the meantime the hosts were proving clinical overall - Bogic Vujosevic three point jump shot saw them push 36-26 ahead with 6’ 12" to go.

It prompted Irish coach Mark Keenan to call a timeout and it stemmed the flow somewhat. Will Hanley’s two point driving lay-up and meant Ireland trailed by nine, 40-31, with four minutes remaining.

Ireland