Arizona
Arizona basketball alum Lauri Markkanen leads Finland to FIBA World Cup
Lauri Markkanen of Finland shoots the ball throughout the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Qualifying recreation between Croatia and Finland at Sports activities corridor Zamet on July 3, 2022 in Rijeka, Croatia. (Picture by Goran Kovacic/Pixsell/MB Media/Getty Pictures)
(Picture by Goran Kovacic/Pixsell/MB Media/Getty Pictures)
The Arizona Wildcats had been properly represented in Sunday’s FIBA Basketball World Cup European Qualifiers second spherical matchup between Finland and Estonia.
Former Wildcats huge Lauri Markkanen led the Finnish squad to a 76-68 victory with 18 factors on 50% taking pictures and 9 boards.
Present Arizona guard Kerr Kriisa began on the opposite facet, scoring 13 factors on 11 photographs.
Finland turned the primary European crew to punch its ticket to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 with Sunday’s win over Estonia paired with Sweden’s victory over Israel in Group J.
We’re going to FIBA World Cup!!!@FIBAWC #susijengi #fibawc pic.twitter.com/TpZJu7rwzG
— Basket.fi (@basketfinland) August 28, 2022
Finland led Sunday’s recreation by as many at 15 factors, however Kriisa drilled a three-pointer to tie the sport with 9:40 remaining within the fourth quarter.
Markkanen, although, made a few baskets within the interval to assist Finland draw back, together with an exclamation level dunk with 19 seconds on the clock.
The ahead, who spent the 2016-17 season with Arizona, is having fairly a match averaging 21.8 factors per recreation in 4 contests.
Former Arizona State wing Elias Valtonen additionally suited up Sunday, enjoying 14 minutes for Finland.
The 2023 World Cup will host 32 groups in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines.
