Basketball: Deng and Pops lead GB to crucial overtime victory against Macedonia

The GB Standard Life men thus made it two wins from two in the EuroBasket qualifiers and kept alive their hopes of winning the group and clinching their place in the finals in Lithuania next year.

Scotland's Kieron Achara had only just under four minutes on court but played his part with a key three-pointer just on the buzzer to make the score 47-43 to GB at half-time.

For a long period in the second half the odds were favouring the coolly-efficient visitors who slotted in baskets like putting money in a fruit machine and ran their pick and roll plays to great effect to lead 83-76 with two minutes remaining after the scores were tied 68-68 at the end of the third.

It was then that Deng took over, slotting in a three pointer with just nine seconds left to send the game into overtime and, in the extra five minutes, he and Pops Mensah-Bonsu ran amok, scoring six and nine points respectively, the latter including two massive dunks off Deng's assists. Mensah-Bonsu led the way for the GB with 27 points and nine rebounds, while Deng was an assist shy of a triple double with 23 points and 11 boards.

Captain Andrew Sullivan, who has been linked with the Glasgow Rocks for next season, finished with 17 points and nine rebounds.

Lester Mekkaleb, formerly of New Orleans, led Macedonia with 30 points, while Antic added 16 points plus five boards and Todor Gechevski finished with 12 points and six rebounds.

GB led by as many as 15 in the first period (29-14).

GB Standard Life Head Coach, Chris Finch said after the game: "Our guys did a good job staying focused.

"We've got to be better in the third but we were really good in the fourth period and overtime and that's what mattered the most."