Blount bows out of the five on five game as Ireland pick up 91-85 win over Luxembourg in FIBA EuroBasket 2029 Pre-Qualifiers

Ireland 91

Luxembourg 85

Cork's Jordan Blount bowed out of the five a side game as Ireland put in a dogged performance to beat Luxembourg and pick up their first win of their FIBA EuroBasket 2029 Pre-Qualifiers campaign and first under new head coach Michael Bree on Monday night. 

Blount announced before the game that he was stepping away from the five a side game after 10 years representing Ireland all over the world.

"It's a weird feeling to announce that this will be my final home game representing Ireland in 5v5 competitions as I am retiring from 5v5 international basketball.

"Representing Ireland for over a decade at this level has been one of the greatest privileges of my life and something I will always cherish.

"It's a know thing to try and leave the jersey in a better place than when you found it, and I would like to think I am doing that."

The did so effectively only using a seven player rotation, as injury ruled out Sam Alajiki and Rapolas Buivydas beforehand, while three players only came off the bench in the closing seconds.

Ryan Leonard, in just his second FIBA EuroBasket game, hit six threes on his way to a 21 point haul, while Neal Quinn finished with a team-high 22 points.

CJ Fulton showed his class with 12 assists and seven points, as he dictated the tempo for much of the second half, with Michael Bree afterwards hailing “a really great team performance.” 

Ireland head coach, Michael Bree, said: “I am delighted, the guys believed in what we’re trying to do and they executed brilliantly on the floor. 

"I think we had a couple of possessions where we lost our way, but for the most part we were in control of what we were doing and what we were trying to do. 

"Ryan Leonard was fantastic, Matt Zona fantastic, the guards getting rid of the ball was brilliant and it was a really great team performance, I am delighted for them.” 

Asked about having to manage the effective seven player rotation, Bree added: “I didn’t have to manage it, they had to manage it, they survived, they’re well able to do it, they’re pros, so they play a lot, they’re going to have a rest tomorrow, so they’re okay. 

"I was good with it, maybe they’re going to feel sore, but I was good with it.” 

Ireland are now 1-3 in Group A, next up is back-to-back away games against North Macedonia and Azerbaijan in July. 

The group winners and best ranked second placed team from three groups advance to the second round of qualifying Quarter Scores:

Ireland: Adrian O’Sullivan (7), CJ Fulton (7), Sean Fitzpatrick (0), Ryan Leonard (21), Sean Flood (16), Jordan Blount (0), James Gormley (0), Matt Zona (18), Eoin Nelson (0), Neal Quinn (14).

Luxembourg:

Malcolm Kreps (9), Dino Ceman (DNP), Max Logelin (4), Philippe Gutenkauf (15), Joe Kalmes (7), Ben Kovac (17), Davy David Rocha (0), Oliver Vujakovic (8), Christopher Jack (0), Yannick Verbeelen (DNP), Clancy Rugg (23), Ivor Kuresevic (2)