Ireland Secure First EuroBasket 2029 Pre-Qualifying Win Against Luxembourg

Tallaght, Ireland – Ireland’s men’s basketball team achieved their first victory in the FIBA EuroBasket 2029 Pre-Qualifiers, defeating Luxembourg 91-85 at the National Basketball Arena on Monday, March 2nd, 2026. The win marks a positive shift for the team under new head coach Michael Bree, following a disappointing start to the campaign.

A Sharper Performance

Ireland demonstrated a noticeable improvement in their performance compared to their previous defeat against Azerbaijan last Friday. They established an early lead, taking a seven-point advantage in the first quarter, although Luxembourg responded to close the gap to 23-22 by the end of the first period. Ireland maintained their lead through the first half, going into halftime with a 39-35 advantage, boosted by 11 points from Neal Quinn.

Dominant Third Quarter

The third quarter saw a significant turnaround for Ireland, as they surged ahead with a 16-point lead. A flurry of three-pointers – three from Ryan Leonard and two from Matt Zona – propelled their offensive momentum. However, Luxembourg fought back, reducing the deficit to 65-56 by the end of the third quarter.

Clutch Play Secures Victory

Luxembourg continued to challenge in the final quarter, narrowing the gap to five points. A crucial three-pointer from captain Sean Flood with 3:56 remaining extended Ireland’s lead to 82-72, proving pivotal in securing the win. Ireland maintained control for the remainder of the game, finishing with a final score of 91-85.

Key Contributors

Neal Quinn led the scoring for Ireland with 22 points, followed closely by Ryan Leonard with 21, Matt Zona with 18, and Sean Flood with 16.

Coach Bree Reflects on the Win

Head coach Michael Bree expressed his relief at seeing the team’s progress translate onto the court. “They’ve been a short period of time together, but they’ve been trying to do what we’re trying to get them to execute on the floor as a group. They came together tonight, it was just fantastic,” he said. Bree as well highlighted the players’ pride and determination, stating, “These guys have a lot of pride in themselves and they love representing their country.” He emphasized the importance of seeing the strategies they had been working on finally come to fruition during the game. RTÉ

Looking Ahead

Ireland’s next challenges in the EuroBasket 2029 pre-qualifying campaign will be road games against North Macedonia and Azerbaijan in July. Ireland Basketball. While acknowledging the difficulty of qualifying, coach Michael Bree remains focused on improving the team’s technical and tactical awareness and developing players for future competitions. Independent.ie

Ireland’s EuroBasket 2029 Pre-Qualifying Campaign So Far

• November: Loss to Luxembourg 89-77 (Michael Bree’s first game in charge) Ireland Basketball
• February: Loss to Azerbaijan
• March 2nd: Win against Luxembourg 91-85