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Russia secured the second spot in Group C when they edged Greece, 73-69, in a battle of two perennial European squad in the 2010 FIBA World Basketball Championship in Ankara, Turkey.
Timofey Mozgov, who recently signed a contract with the New York Knicks for the next NBA season, imposed his will inside to finish the game with a game-high 18 points and four rebounds for Russia, which finished the group play with a 4-1 record; the only defeat coming in the hands of host Turkey.
Andrey Vorontsevich added 10 points and five rebounds, while Evgeny Voronoc chipped in nine points and grabbed six boards.
Russia kicked of the game with a big 12-2 run that caught the Greek Team by surprise and Mozgov took over the scoring chores to give Russia a comfortable 20-10 lead at the end of the first period.
However, Greece buckled down and found their usual form in the second quarter, as Sofoklis Schortsanitis sparked a 10-2 run by the Greeks that narrowed down Russia’s lead to two, 22-20, with 3:48 left in the period.
Russia was able to recover, but the hot-shooting of the Greek squad tied the game at 30 before the halftime break.
With the score back to square one, Russia once again leaned Mozgov’s might and once again unleashed a 13-0 run that gave them a big 49-37 lead midway through the third period and ended the quarter on top by 16 points, 59-43.
Thr Russian Team, who played in this tournament without their NBA star Andrei Kirilenko, protected their lead in the final period and were able to stand against the last ditch effort of Greece to bag their fourth win against only one defeat.
Bulky center Sofoklis Schortsanitis led Greece with his 16 points and nine rebounds, while Nikos Zisis had 11 points.
Russia will most likely face Spain in the final 16, while Greece will go up against France.
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