Arizona basketball players began their visit to Lithuania on August 19, when they competed in Jonava against the country’s reserve team. At that time, the “Wildcats” team lost 88:99 to the team coached by Mindaugas Lukošius.
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However, the very next day the students defeated the Ukrainian national team 107:85, and on August 22 in Alytus they also beat the Lithuanian men – 88:74.
In each of these games, Šiauliai native M. Krivas played and shone.
In the latest victory, the 21-year-old 218 cm tower scored 15 points (5/8 two-pointers, 1/1 three-pointer, 2/2 free throws), grabbed 9 rebounds, made 2 assists, and blocked 4 shots in 22 minutes.
“Very nice. We started the trip badly against the reserve team, we played badly,” emphasized M. Krivas after the victory over Rimas Kurtinaitis’ trainees. “Then we went out unprepared, lost the battle for rebounds. That can signal a lack of desire. The fouls were very silly. We didn’t play Arizona basketball, corrected the mistakes and it was a completely different picture. Now I am satisfied with the team and really happy. We knew which team we would play against and how everything unfolded here.”
M. Krivas made as many as 4 blocks in the game against his country’s main national team.
“My teammates trust me, they know they can take risks because I will block opponents in the paint,” smiled the Lithuanian.
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During the game, he also made one three-pointer. When asked how he felt, M. Krivas emphasized that there could be more such moments next season because he will have more freedom.
“As soon as there is a chance, I will shoot,” the student asserted.
I will block opponents in the paint
Perhaps the Arizona team itself has a bit little free time, as they will soon fly back to the USA. However, M. Krivas said that his teammates liked Lithuania.
“For many on the team, this was their first time in Europe. Everyone was left with many good impressions and really liked it,” said the Šiauliai native.
Now Arizona is leaving to prepare for the NCAA season starting on November 5, while the Lithuanian men’s basketball team will compete against the University of Michigan students in Vilnius on August 23 at 18:30.
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