Ramunas Siskauskas led four players in double figures with 21 points as Lithuania over-powered Slovenia 80-61 to remain the only undefeated at the 2007 EuroBasket and set up a quarter-final showdown with Croatia.

Slovenia, who also came into the game with a perfect record, succumbed to Lithuania's overall size and depth, getting out-rebounded 44-22 while being out-scored 28-14 in the

		Team leader Sarunas Jasikevicius did not play in the second half due to injury.

final 15 minutes.

The Slovenians will next face defending champions Greece in Friday's quarter-finals.

"We don't play a game over two quarters. We have to play a full 40 minutes. It's impossible to win a game in 10 or 20 minutes so we went step by step," said Siskauskas, who also added three rebounds and three assists.

"(In the second half) we didn't do anything really different but we improved our defense a bit from the first half and tried to do what works for us on offense. And the result shows it worked."

Darius Songalia had 17 points, Ksistof Lavrinovic scored 14 and Rimantas Kaukenas chipped in 11 points and four assists.

Lithuania's star play-maker Sarunas Jasikevicius didn't play in the second half due to a left hamstring problem and tallied two points, three rebounds and two assists in 15 minutes.

Jaka Lakovic paced the Slovenians with 15 points while Matjaz Smodis added 11 points in a losing effort.

"Lithuania is a very strong team and tonight they were simply better than us. In some situations we didn't react well. We stayed in the game until midway through the third quarter. Lithuania play team basketball, everybody is playing tough defense and strong offense," said Lakovic.

The game was highly intense but just as high in quality as well - at least until the Lithuanians showed their dominance in a battle of  two of Europe's most efficient and balanced teams.

Despite some 1,000 Lithuanian fans seemingy turning Madrid's Telefonica Arena into a home match in Kaunas, Lithuania trailed 14-12 midway through the first quarter. But  Ramunas Butautas's side held Slovenia scoreless for 2:30 and pushed ahead 21-14 on their way to a 26-18 lead after one period.

Slovenia worked hard defensively in the second quarter and were able to use an 11-4 run to cut the deficit to 30-29 with five minutes left in the half.

Lithuania still led 38-37 before Kaukenas and Siskauskas both drained long bombs for a 44-41 Lithuania lead at the break.

Slovenia began to run out of weapons and get worn down by the never-ending warehouse of defenders and scorers from the Lithuania bench.

A lay-up by Matjaz Smodis trimmed the deficit to 52-47 halfway through the third quarter but the Baltic powers went on an 11-2 run to open their first double-digit cushion and led 63-49 going into the fourth quarter.

Uros Slokar trimmed the margin to 63-53 but Lithuania reeled off seven straight points and would eventually increase the lead to 20 points in the final minute.

Lithuania

Ramunas Siskauskas: "We don't play a game over two quarters. We have to play a full 40 minutes. It's impossible to win a game in 10 or 20 minutes so we went step by step."

About difference in second half: "We didn't do anything really different but we improved our defense a bit from the first half I think and try to do what works for us on offense. And the result shows it worked."

"We have shooters, but we also try to get the ball inside. The most important part of the tournament is now with the game against Croatia. I haven't seen them play, but we will not underestimate them."

About Sarunas Jasikevicius' injury: "I hope he will be ok. He's played with different injuries."

Darius Songaila: "We are already happy with what we have achieved at the EuroBasket but Friday is the game for us and I hope it will be our day and we can beat Greece. The difference between this year and last is that we have Ramunas (Siskauskas) and Saras."

Coach Butautas: "Thanks for Slovenia for a big fight and fairplay. They are a very talented team but young so in a few years they'll be very strong. In the first half we made a lot of mistakes in defense, and too many turnovers. The game was very tough for us. In the second half our defense looked better. We fought better under the basket, and won the game.

"Croatia is a very strong team. They showed that when they beat Spain and also in other games. They have a lot of good players with a very good coach, so we're waiting for a big challenge. We played in the preperation period without Jasikevicius and used Kaukenas or Siskauskas at the point guard. When Saras can't play then we have Kaukenas and Siskauskas to do that. Sarunas is very important for us, but we can play good without him."

Slovenia

Jaka Lakovic: "Lithuania is a very strong team and tonight they were simply better than us. In some situations we didn't react well. We stayed in the game until midway through the third quarter. They play team basketball, everybody is playing tough defense and strong offense."

"This result is not going to bring us down despite it being our first defeat of the tournament. Every game is different. If we look on the other hand we have won five games and we should find self-confidence and stay on the right track as we have done."

Matjaz Smodis: "We're just missing a little something. We're not a deep team, but maybe we just need a little more luck."

Goran Jagodnik: "In the first half we were very close and played good offense, but not so good defense. They scored a lot of three points in big percentages, and took some offensive rebounds that made a big difference. We must put our head up and try to do the best against Greece."

Coach Ales Pipan: "Congratulations to Lithuania for their victory, they deserved it. We played in the first half we allowed them to shot eight three pointers and we weren't aggressive on their shooters, and very bad on the rebound. Lithuania is a very good team with experienced players that punish you for your mistakes. Tomorrow is another day and the game on Friday with Greece is very important. Greece is still the champs. We played two friendly games against them but they mean nothing. Here it's another story. We have to prepare very well for that game and hope my players will do their best on court."

Slovenia (4-0) and Lithuania (4-0) meet today in a battle of the remaining two unbeaten teams at the EuroBasket.

With top spot in Group F up for grabs, the Slovenians will be eager to maintain their impressive run but face their biggest challenge against Sarunas Jasikevicius and Lithuania, a team bringing back memories of 2003 when they won gold in Sweden.

		Erazem Lorbek needs to step up his play for Slovenia

Slovenia met Lithuania at the Acropolis Tournament earlier this summer, where Rimantas Kaukenas and Robertas Javtokas did most of the damage in an 87-72 win for Ramunas Butautas's side.

Last result: Lithuania beat France 88-73 and Slovenia demolished Germany 77-47.

Key Match-up: Sarunas Jasikevicius v Goran Dragic and Jaka Lakovic. According to team-mate Ramunas Siskauskas, Jasikevicius is "almost half our team". Enough said.

Key Statistics: Lithuania have out-rebounded all their opponents so far in the tournament with their guards particularly impressive at hitting the boards.

X-factor: Erazem Lorbek. Sometimes he is a demon inside who can occasionally pop out to hit three-pointers, while at other times he is anonymous. A good Lorbek makes Slovenia far more dangerous.

Speaking out: "They're a great team. We already played them once. They're just so disciplined. They have a lot of big names but they're also just really good as a team" - Lithuania's Linas Kleiza.