Lithuania protests double-OT loss to Germany at EuroBasket after free throw not awarded on technical foul

COLOGNE, Germany — Lithuania protested its double-overtime loss to Germany at the EuroBasket tournament on Sunday, arguing that referees did not award it a free throw following a technical foul in regulation.

It was not immediately clear how, or if, FIBA would respond to the protest.

For now, it's a German win — and a huge one for the hosts. Franz Wagner scored 32 points, Dennis Schroder added 25 and Germany held off Lithuania 109-107 in a game that was tight throughout, with neither team ever leading by more than nine points.

«We are not happy,» Lithuania coach Kazys Maksvytis said.

According to FIBA, Germany coach Gordie Herbert was called for a technical with 1:26 left in the third quarter, after a personal foul was whistled against his team. Jonas Valanciunas shot two free throws for Lithuania for the personal foul, but no free throw for the technical was awarded.

Herbert said he was told by one of the referees with 7 seconds left in regulation that there was «a situation» regarding the technical and what should have happened.

«That was the first time I heard about it,» Herbert said.

Arnas Butkevicius' 3-pointer from the left wing for Lithuania — the potential game-winner — bounced off the rim as the clock ran out in the second extra session.

Maodo Lo scored 21 points for Germany (3-0) and Daniel Theis added 11.

Valanciunas had game highs of 34 points and 14 rebounds for Lithuania (0-3), while Marius Grigonis scored 17, Domantas Sabonis finished with 13, Ignas Brazdekis scored 12 and Mindaugas Kuzminskas added 11.

Lithuania's three losses have been by seven, four and two points.

«It was a tough game,» Valanciunas said. «They played well. I thought we responded for most of the time.… Congrats to them.»

Valanciunas