Basketball: GB lose to Ukraine

Luol Deng: limited to 17 points

Great Britain failed to capitalise on their qualification for next summer's European Championships as Group B rivals Ukraine ensured they could not enjoy a lap of honour with a 75-66 win in Group B.

The hosts won each of the first three quarters - by scores of 18-15, 24-17 and 18-17 before the visitors edged the final stanza 17-15.

Pops Mensa-Bonsu continued his fine form as he led the British fight with 18 points and 10 rebounds in a losing cause.

Serhey Lishchuk was the top Ukrainian performer with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

NBA star Luol Deng, who helped himself to a devastating 38 points in the decisive qualification match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, managed just 17 in a lower-scoring game in Dnepropetrovsk, while Nate Reinking also hit double figures with 12 points.

Chris Finch's side started promisingly, going 7-4 and then 14-8 up in the opening four minutes but the home side finished the quarter well to close with a three-point advantage.

They stretched that to nine points midway through the second quarter, with a three-pointer from Olexiy Onufriyev taking it to 42-32 by the halfway stage.

Great Britain could not close that gap in the third, which ended 60-49, and although Reinking made two jump shots in the closing minute his side never looked like getting close enough.