Cyprus vs Austria

Austria started the stronger side, taking a 20-16 lead after the first quarter and stretching it to 41-36 at halftime. Guylain Mbemba was a force inside for the visitors, finishing with a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double.

Cyprus emerged from the break transformed. They outscored Austria 20-14 in the third quarter to level the scores at 56-56 entering the final period. Ioannis Pasiali anchored the defensive effort with 10 rebounds while scoring an efficient 13 points on 6/7 shooting.

The home side carried that momentum into the fourth quarter, shooting 21 points to Austria's 17 to close out the five-point win. Simon Michail dished out a game-high eight assists and added eight points, controlling the tempo for Cyprus down the stretch.

The third quarter was decisive. After managing just 36 first-half points, Cyprus found their rhythm on both ends, holding Austria to 14 points in the period — their lowest output of any quarter. A 10-2 run midway through the third erased Austria's lead and swung the momentum permanently Cyprus's way.

Filippos Tigkas (Cyprus) — 25 points, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 block. The game's leading scorer was relentless attacking the rim (8/13 on two-pointers) and perfect from the line in crunch time. Named Player of the Match.

Ioannis Pasiali (Cyprus) — 13 points, 10 rebounds (double-double), perfect 5/5 on two-point attempts. His work on the glass was critical in keeping Austria to one-and-done possessions in the second half.

Guylain Mbemba (Austria) — 19 points, 10 rebounds. The Austrian forward was the best player for the visitors but couldn't get enough support in the second half.

Simon Michail (Cyprus) — 8 points, 8 assists, 2 rebounds. His playmaking in the second half unlocked Cyprus's offence when they needed it most.

Cyprus shot efficiently inside (26/39 on two-pointers, 66.7%) but struggled from deep (5/26, 19.2%). They made up for it by converting 10 of 11 free throws. Austria's three-point defence early kept Cyprus honest, but the home side's ability to get to the line and score in the paint told the story. Cyprus turned the ball over only eight times compared to committing 23 personal fouls, a reflection of their aggressive style on both ends.

Group F of the EuroBasket 2029 Pre-Qualifiers Second Round got off to a dramatic start. Cyprus bank two points and take the early lead in the group. Austria drop to 0-1 and face a quick turnaround. Only the group winner advances to the main Qualifiers. Cyprus's next fixture is away to North Macedonia on 26 November 2026. Austria host North Macedonia on 30 August 2026 in their next group match.

Cyprus ended a long winless run against Austria with a composed second-half performance that suggests they can be competitive in this group. The Tigkas brothers give them a reliable scoring punch, and the home-court advantage at Spyros Kyprianou Arena proved decisive. Austria will need to find more consistent secondary scoring if they are to bounce back.