Lithuanian reserve team defeats Arizona Wildcats in friendly basketball match

Lithuania's reserve men's basketball team kicked off their control match series with a victory, defeating the Arizona Wildcats 99-88 in Jonava. The team, coached by Mindaugas Lukšius, secured the win despite learning just before the game that three players would be unavailable due to NCAA regulations.

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I knew it would be difficult. We haven't started our season preparations yet. Congratulations to the Lithuanians, they were better.

Arizona's coach, T. Loyd, acknowledged the difficulty of the match, noting that his team had not yet begun its season preparations. He congratulated the Lithuanian team, stating they were the better side on the court. The Wildcats are scheduled to play two more control matches in Lithuania: one against Ukraine and another against Lithuania.

Initially, it was reported that the second match against Lithuania would be against the main national team preparing for the World Cup qualifiers. However, uncertainty surrounds the composition of the Lithuanian team for that game. Loyd commented on the possibility, "I don't think we deserved a chance to play against the main team today." He added, "It's a special occasion that one must earn. They are preparing for important FIBA battles and are in a difficult situation, so they have to do what seems best for their preparation. Whatever they decide, I will respect it. As we saw today, the reserve team also presented a big challenge for us."

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I don't think we deserved a chance to play against the main team today. It's a special occasion that one must earn.

Lithuanian center Motiejus Krivas echoed this sentiment, admitting, "We didn't deserve it; if we had played against the main team, it would have been much worse." Krivas, who is recovering from a minor injury, played 11 minutes and scored 10 points. He is entering his fourth season in the NCAA and is expected to enter the NBA next summer.

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We didn't deserve it; if we had played against the main team, it would have been much worse.

Loyd expressed no complaints about the team's week-long stay in Lithuania, praising the country. "I've been to Lithuania many times over the past twenty years. It's a wonderful country. Not many Americans travel to the Baltic countries, but they should. Lithuania is a wonderful country with great people. We are taken care of at the highest level," he said.

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I've been to Lithuania many times over the past twenty years. It's a wonderful country. Not many Americans travel to the Baltic countries, but they should. Lithuania is a wonderful country with great people. We are taken care of at the highest level.