EuroBasket 2025: Turkey Overcomes Sweden's Early Lead

Sweden gives Turkey a scare, but ultimately falls short

EuroBasket 2025 Round of 16: Turkey's dominant group stage form pays off as they edge out Sweden 85-79. Read more about the match.

Turkey, who had dominated Group A with five wins from five matches, faced a tough challenge against the determined Swedish side...

Sweden gave Turkey a scare in the EuroBasket 2025 Round of 16 match held in Riga, Latvia. Despite being the underdogs, Sweden led at halftime and kept the game close until the final minute. However, Turkey's experience and skill ultimately paid off, securing an 85-79 win and a spot in the quarterfinals.

Sweden's journey to the Round of 16 was unexpected, thanks to a surprising win by already-eliminated Great Britain over Montenegro. This result allowed Sweden to progress to the next stage in fourth place, courtesy of a favorable points difference. Despite their eventual loss to Turkey, Sweden's performance in the tournament was notable, showcasing their skills and determination on the court.

Sweden got off to a strong start, taking an early 6-0 lead and then extending it to 9-3. Ludvig Hakanson quickly found his range, contributing five points to Sweden's early advantage. This strong opening set the tone for a potential upset, as Sweden's performance put pressure on the favored Turkish team.

Turkey, who had dominated Group A with five wins from five matches, faced a tough challenge against the determined Swedish side. Despite their impressive record, including a victory over Serbia, the Olympic silver medalists, Turkey would need to regroup and refocus to overcome Sweden's early momentum. The match was shaping up to be a closely contested and intense affair.

Sweden kept the momentum in their favor during the first 10 minutes, never trailing despite Turkey leveling the score at 11-11. Melwin Pantzar and Pelle Larsson contributed to Sweden's offense, helping grow the lead back to six points at 21-15. The quarter ended with Sweden maintaining a slim 23-20 advantage.

Turkey's fortunes began to change early in the second quarter, as Alperen Sengun and Sehmus Hazer found their rhythm. The Turkish team tied the score at 28-28, putting pressure on Sweden and making it a closely contested match. The momentum had shifted, and Turkey was now in a strong position to take control of the game.

Sweden took control early in the second quarter, with Pontus Pantzar's three-pointer sparking an 11-4 run. Simon Birgander's jump shot extended Sweden's lead to 39-32, their largest margin of the game. Denzel Andersson added three more points, making the halftime score 42-37 in Sweden's favor. The Swedes had a real chance of pulling off an upset at the break.

However, the tide of the game shifted dramatically in the early stages of the second half. Turkey's “12 Giant Men” found their form, with Ercan Osmani scoring seven points to lead a stunning 14-0 run. This surge turned a seven-point deficit into a seven-point lead for Turkey, with the score now 51-44. The momentum had swung decisively in Turkey's favor, setting up a tense finish to the match.

Adam Ramstedt finally broke Turkey's scoring streak, but Ergin Ataman's team remained relentless. Adem Bona's layup extended Turkey's lead to 61-50 with just over a minute left in the third quarter. Although Ludvig Hakanson and Viktor Gaddefors added some points for Sweden, Turkey maintained control, leading 63-55 with 10 minutes remaining in the game.

THE FINAL NAIL BY SENGUN 🔨#EuroBasket | #MakeYourMark pic.twitter.com/BmDoA9YGaA

— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 6, 2025

In the final quarter, Turkey initially held their ground, keeping Sweden at bay. However, the underdogs staged an impressive late rally, culminating in an 8-0 run that tied the game at 69-69 with 6:12 minutes left to play. Hakanson's three-pointer capped off the surge, putting Sweden level and setting up a thrilling finish to the match.

Turkey held on for a hard-fought 85-79 victory, booking their spot in the quarterfinals. Despite Sweden's valiant efforts, they couldn't find the go-ahead score. Alperen Sengun sealed the win with two free throws in the final minute, making it 82-76.

Player Standouts

Sengun was dominant, scoring 24 points, grabbing 16 rebounds, and dishing out six assists. Ludvig Hakanson led Sweden with 16 points, while Pelle Larsson and Viktor Gaddefors scored 15 points each. Simon Birgander added a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome Turkey's strong performance.