Vrbica Stefanov scored 27 points and came up with big plays in the final minutes of the game to lead FYR of Macedonia to an 81-77 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
FYR of Macedonia notched their second victory by going on a significant run in the second quarter to open up a lead and then withstood a late Bosnia and Herzegovina comeback attempt in the fourth.
Trailing 21-19 midway through the second quarter, FYR of Macedonia ran off 11 straight points to take a 30-21 lead.
Gjorgji Cekovski made his second consecutive three-pointer to start the spurt, and Ryan Stack and Stefanov hit threes of their own.
Mirza Kurtovik made a three with 21 seconds remaining in the second quarter, which allowed FYR of Macedonia to go into halftime leading 40-27.
Jordanco Davitkov’s men maintained their double digit advantage for most of the third quarter, but Feliks Kojadinovic struck from beyond the arc with 39 seconds to go in the quarter allowing Bosnia and Herzegovina to enter the final stanza trailing 60-51.
FYR of Macedonia cushioned their lead to 14 on three from Stefanov with just over six minutes to play.
But Nenad Markovic’s side refused to surrender and outscored FYR of Macedonia 14-3 over the next four minutes of play.
Damir Krupalija, who finished with a team-high 18 points, hit a three at the 2:33 mark and Henry Domercant followed with a jumper 40 seconds later to get Bosnia and Herzegovina to within 73-70.
They had a chance to complete the comeback as FYR of Macedonia turned the ball over, but Kenan Bajramovic was called for an offensive foul.
Stack then made two free throws and following an empty Bosnia and Herzegovina possession, Stack tapped in a miss to allow FYR of Macedonia to go up 77-70 with one minute to go.
Stefanov’s steal and jumper in transition put his side up nine and he essentially iced the game by hitting a pair of free throws with nine seconds remaining.
Both teams resume play on Saturday.
FYR of Macedonia face undefeated Portugal this Saturday in a match-up between the top two teams in the Group.
Winless Bosnia and Herzegovina take on 1-2 Israel.
