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Greece extended its perfect start at EuroBasket 2025 with a decisive 96-69 victory over Cyprus on Saturday in front of nearly 8,000 fans. Both teams shared a rare moment of unity before tip-off, standing together as a combined national anthem echoed through the arena.
Even without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was watching from the bench, the Greek squad showed its depth and experience. Tyler Dorsey set the tone early, scoring eight points in the first minutes, while Giorgos Mitoglou and Ioannis Kalaitzakis helped build a 22-13 lead after the first quarter.
Alexandros Samontourov stole the spotlight just before halftime, sinking two three-pointers that pushed Greece’s advantage to 43-31. Cyprus fought back briefly after the break, fueled by a seven-point run from Filippos Tigkas, but Greece quickly regained control. Dorsey, Mitoglou, and Kalaitzakis stretched the lead to 69-47 by the end of the third quarter.
The final frame belonged to Nikos Katsivelis, who made key plays on both ends of the floor, including a dunk, free throws, and a block. Mitoglou finished strong to seal Greece’s 96-69 win, keeping them unbeaten in Group C.
Top performers
Tyler Dorsey: 18 points (4 threes)
Giorgos Mitoglou: 18 points
Ioannis Larentzakis: 14 points (3 threes)
Alexandros Samontourov: 12 points (2 threes)
Quarter Scores: 13-22, 31-43, 47-69, 69-96
Greece now faces Georgia on August 31, while Cyprus will try to rebound against Spain later the same day.
With information from Cyprus Basketball Federation.
