MBB | Incoming True Freshman Mantas Juzenas Leads Lithuania to Second Place Finish at FIBA U20 Eurobasket Tournament
7/21/2025 12:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HERAKLION, Greece — For the second straight season, Saint Mary's Men's Basketball had a player dominate in the FIBA U20 Eurobasket Tournament, as incoming freshman Mantas Juzenas led his home nation of Lithuania to a second place finish in the event. This comes just one year after Paulius Murauskas helped lead Lithuania to a fifth place finish at this very tournament, and three years after Augustas Marciulionis helped Lithuania to a runner-up finish at the U20 European Championships in 2022. Juzenas represents another link in the strong Lithuanian chain being built in Moraga for the Saint Mary's Basketball program.
It was a slow start for the Lithuanian team at this event, as Juzenas saw his team open up group play going just 1-2, with a win over Romania, and losses to Greece and the Czech Republic. Through the group stage the Moraga bound wing averaged 20.7 minutes of play per contest, dropping 10 PPG, 3.7 RPG and 1.7 APG. Juzenas had a bit of difficulty finding his shooting stroke in the early goings of the tournament, but did a majority of his scoring damage at the charity stripe, converting on 11 of 13 attempts.
Entering the Round of 16 with a 1-2 record, and facing off with a strong looking team from Poland, a switch flipped for the Lithuanians, who, after falling behind in the fourth quarter, outscored their counterparts by 15 for the remaining three quarters to move onto the quarterfinals. Juzenas had one of his best game of the tournament, scoring 16 points on 6-12 shooting and ripping down six rebounds to help his nation to a meeting with Slovenia. Against the Slovenians, Lithuania jumped out to an early lead, and while their opponents only trailed by six entering the fourth quarter, the Lithuanians outscored Slovenia 20-8 to cruise to an 18 point victory. Juzenas scored 12 in that one and had his best rebounding performance of the tournament, ripping down seven to lead the team.
In the semifinal matchup with France, Juzenas established himself as arguably the premiere shooter for his country, and possibly the whole tournament field. Shooting just 10-29 from three entering that game, Juzenas buried 7-10 three point attempts, scoring a team-high 21 to knock of the defending champs. This led Lithuania to their first U20 Championship game since 2022, and their seventh since the start of the event in 1992. The seven made threes in a contest was tied for the most by a player in the tournament. Lithuania would fall to Italy in the championship game, but finished the tournament with a silver medal finish.
Juzenas finished as Lithuania's third leading scorer (11.7 PPG) and third leading rebounder (4.4 RPG). He buried a team best 16 three points (third most in the tournament) on 40 attempts for a 40% clip. As such, he was named to the five player all-tournament team. After a strong summer showing, Juzenas will hope to continue his impactful play in Moraga this Winter.
#GaelsRise
It was a slow start for the Lithuanian team at this event, as Juzenas saw his team open up group play going just 1-2, with a win over Romania, and losses to Greece and the Czech Republic. Through the group stage the Moraga bound wing averaged 20.7 minutes of play per contest, dropping 10 PPG, 3.7 RPG and 1.7 APG. Juzenas had a bit of difficulty finding his shooting stroke in the early goings of the tournament, but did a majority of his scoring damage at the charity stripe, converting on 11 of 13 attempts.
Entering the Round of 16 with a 1-2 record, and facing off with a strong looking team from Poland, a switch flipped for the Lithuanians, who, after falling behind in the fourth quarter, outscored their counterparts by 15 for the remaining three quarters to move onto the quarterfinals. Juzenas had one of his best game of the tournament, scoring 16 points on 6-12 shooting and ripping down six rebounds to help his nation to a meeting with Slovenia. Against the Slovenians, Lithuania jumped out to an early lead, and while their opponents only trailed by six entering the fourth quarter, the Lithuanians outscored Slovenia 20-8 to cruise to an 18 point victory. Juzenas scored 12 in that one and had his best rebounding performance of the tournament, ripping down seven to lead the team.
In the semifinal matchup with France, Juzenas established himself as arguably the premiere shooter for his country, and possibly the whole tournament field. Shooting just 10-29 from three entering that game, Juzenas buried 7-10 three point attempts, scoring a team-high 21 to knock of the defending champs. This led Lithuania to their first U20 Championship game since 2022, and their seventh since the start of the event in 1992. The seven made threes in a contest was tied for the most by a player in the tournament. Lithuania would fall to Italy in the championship game, but finished the tournament with a silver medal finish.
Juzenas finished as Lithuania's third leading scorer (11.7 PPG) and third leading rebounder (4.4 RPG). He buried a team best 16 three points (third most in the tournament) on 40 attempts for a 40% clip. As such, he was named to the five player all-tournament team. After a strong summer showing, Juzenas will hope to continue his impactful play in Moraga this Winter.
#GaelsRise
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