By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 08:06 EDT, 6 September 2025 | Updated: 08:07 EDT, 6 September 2025
RIGA, Latvia (AP) - NBA All-Star Alperen Sengun scored 24 points as Turkey held off Sweden to win 85-79 and reach the EuroBasket quarterfinals on Saturday.
The Houston Rockets forward added 16 rebounds and six assists in a stellar performance against Sweden, which drew level at 76-76 thanks to Ludvig Hakanson's 3-pointer with just under three minutes left.
Hakanson led the Swedes with 16 points, while Panathinaikos forward Cedi Osman chipped in with 17 points for Turkey.
In Saturday's other round-of-16 matchups, it was World Cup winner Germany vs. Portugal; Lithuania vs. Latvia, and Serbia vs. Finland.
Turkey will play either Poland or Bosnia and Herzegovina for a spot in the semifinals.
Defending champion Spain was eliminated Thursday in the group stage by Giannis Antetokounmpo's Greece, while Olympic silver medalist France and its super-deep bench faces Georgia on Sunday.
Sweden's Denzel Andersson, bottom, falls after colliding with Turkey's Alperen Sengun, centre, during the Eurobasket, European Basketball Championship round of 16 match between Turkey and Sweden at the Riga Arena in Riga, Latvia, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
In Sunday´s other matches, it is Poland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina; Italy vs. Slovenia, and Greece vs. Israel.
The quarterfinals begin next Tuesday. ___
AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports
Turkey's Alperen Sengun drives between Sweden's Viktor Gaddefors, left, and Sweden's Ludvig Hakanson during the Eurobasket, European Basketball Championship round of 16 match between Turkey and Sweden at the Riga Arena in Riga, Latvia, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)