Great Britain proves grit can rewrite EuroBasket history
The long wait is over. After almost 12 years, Great Britain ended their losing streak with a victory over Montenegro at EuroBasket 2025. Akwasi Yeboah and Myles Hesson led the way as Marc Steutel’s side saw off Nikola Vucevic and company.
It was implausible, borderline inconceivable, and unquestionably incredible. Great Britain recorded their first win of EuroBasket 2025, indeed their first since EuroBasket 2013, with a huge upset of Montenegro.
Marc Steutel’s side played with grit but, more importantly, resolve to see off Montenegro in Tampere. In the process, we said farewell to Nikola Vucevic’s EuroBasket career as the result meant Sweden progressed to the last 16.
Dare to dream?
Great Britain’s wait for a win at EuroBasket goes back to 8 September 2013. What is less known was that they also hadn’t held a half-time lead in the competition since that same game. At EuroBasket 2025, against a Montenegro side that needed to win, Marc Steutel’s side led 48-42.
Akwasi Yeboah and Myles Hesson had done most of the heavy lifting. The duo accounted for 29 of Great Britain’s 48 first half points. Possibly of more importance, it wasn’t a case of the British tiring themselves out defensively to get this lead.
Nikola Vucevic was getting his in the first half. Offensively, Montenegro were fine. It was their own defensive performance that was enabling the British to more than run with them. By generating more second-chance opportunities, Steutel’s side had reason to believe.
Marc Steutel’s Great Britain had some unexpected support at EuroBasket 2025 as Sweden’s fans cheered them on.
Living with them
Third quarters at EuroBasket 2025 up to now had not been pretty. Even with their first half-time lead in 12 years, there was ample reason for observers to be wary of what was to come.
Defensively, Great Britain raised their game while Myles Hesson continued to put in the work. Akwasi Yeboah in turn was getting it done too while Dan Akin was finding a way to keep up with Nikola Vucevic.
The Chicago Bulls man was still racking up points at a quick clip. Yet those around him just weren’t able to adequately match his haul. The British had come with a plan for this game and one that looked capable of working. After the disaster at the hands of Germany a couple of days prior, this was a Great Britain side that looked much more composed.
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Squeaky bum time
It wasn’t just the British fans that were rooting for Marc Steutel’s side. Sweden knew that an upset victory for Great Britain would send them through to the knockout stages of EuroBasket 2025. Their fans knew it too.
The small but loud British fanbase was joined by around a dozen Swedes. One of them even draped himself in a union flag in solidarity. This was not a game about doing favours for anyone but the British would welcome the support.
Some of the legs were starting to look tired as the game entered the fourth quarter. With Myles Hesson and Awkasi Yeboah having carried the load for so much of the game, more needed to stand up now. Jubrile Belo heeded the call with an early dunk. Luke Nelson and Jelani Watson-Gayle were on hand to step up on the next defensive play. History was on the line but the British needed to keep their heads.
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Myles Hesson delivered big as Great Britain beat Montenegro at EuroBasket 2025.
They didn’t wilt
With just over 4.03 to play, Myles Hesson made an uncontested dunk to put Great Britain up by 7 points. On the following possession, Nikola Vucevic missed a jumper and Akwasi Yeboah fought with his life for the rebound. Anybody who thought Great Britain were going to give up at EuroBasket 2025 was badly mistaken.
Still, it was far from over. As Vucevic glided to the post with 2.19 left, he cut the gap to just 2 points. If Great Britain were going to end the wait, they’d have to fight to the final seconds of this game. Vladimir Mihalovic put Montenegro ahead yet again before Hesson responded in kind.
The nerves, the tension. It was all there. Every man was giving every ounce of energy he had. Relevance, respect, and redemption were all at stake. Marc Steutel’s side had to keep it all together. Yeboah with the drive. Then the board. They had done it. The wait was over. British basketball could hold its head high amongst its European peers once more.
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