| 20 August 2009
Hungary clinched first place in the EuroBasket Relegation Round with a 65-60 triumph at Estonia on Thursday. Having sealed a top-two finish with a midweek victory over the Czech Republic which secured Division A basketball for next summer, the Hungarians ended their summer on a high and can now look forward to attempting to qualify for EuroBasket 2011 in Lithuania. Estonia, having already been condemned to Division B, slumped to a fifth defeat in six games. Veteran guard Istvan Nemeth signed off with a team-high 18 points for Hungary (4-2), who trailed 39-37 late in the third quarter but went on an 8-2 run to take the lead for good. Kristjan Kangur also had 18 points in defeat for Estonia. Ukraine beat the Czech Republic on Thursday to also finish 4-2, but finished second to Hungary on a goal differential tie-breaker. |