Georgia succumbs to Lithuania in EuroBasket playoff (VIDEO)

Georgia has been eliminated from the 2015 EuroBasket after a close match against Lithuania in the playoff stage of the prestigious competition.

The match ended in an 81:85 defeat that was only decided in the final quarter.

During yesterday’s game in France the Georgian side showed the world they were equal competitors with the more experienced Lithuanian side however subtle mistakes and momentary loss of concentration gave Lithuania a slight advantage, which the opposition grasped with both hands.

The Lithuanian national side was the runner-up team of last year’s EuroBasket competition and on paper were the more experienced side.

Georgia began strongly and took the lead in the first period through seven out of ten two-pointers before further successful attacking brought the team’s lead to nine points in the second period.

But Lithuania regrouped and switched to zonal defence and by the time the first half ended Georgia only led by one point, with 40-39 on the scoreboard.

The lead changed often between the sides in the third quarter before the Lithuanian side offered a more successful final shooting and confident defensive play.

Near the end of the match Georgia was seven points down but the team clawed its way back to within a single point, but with 37 seconds on the clock Lithuania’s Jonas Maciulis took the wind out from Georgia’s wings by converting a three-pointer and then adding two more points to bring his game total to 34 points, six rebounds and four steals.

Afterwards the Georgia team coach Igor Kokoskov said his side played well and he was proud of their efforts.

"Overall, little things changed the game … I want to say thank you to the Georgian team. They played together and they were competing. They put themselves in a situation to compete with the best, to be on this stage and I’m proud of these guys.”

Kokoskov added Georgia now needed to grow "as a team” and "as a federation”, noting he thought the development of the sport was going in the right direction.

The game against Lithuania was the first time Georgia had reached the playoff stage of the prestigious EuroBasket competition.

Watch game highlights from Georgia’s match against Lithuania below: