Lauri Markkanen of Finland shoots the ball during the FIBA World Cup 2023 Qualifying match between Croatia and Finland at Sports Hall Zamet on July 3, 2022 in Rijeka, Croatia. (Photo by Goran Kovacic/Pixsell/MB Media/Getty Images)
(Photo by Goran Kovacic/Pixsell/MB Media/Getty Images)
The Arizona Wildcats were well represented in the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup European Qualifiers on Sunday between Finland and Estonia.
Former Wildcats great Lauri Markkanen led the Finnish team to a 76-68 victory with 18 points on 50 percent shooting and nine boards.
Current Arizona guard Kerr Kriisa started on the other end, scoring 13 points on 11 shots.
Finland became the first European team to clinch their ticket to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 with Sunday’s victory over Estonia coupled with Sweden’s win over Israel in Group J.
We are going to the FIBA World Cup!!!@FIBAWC #susijengi #fibawc pic.twitter.com/TpZJu7rwzG
— Basket.fi (@basketfinland) August 28, 2022
Finland led Sunday’s game by as many points with 15 points, but Kriisa fired a three-pointer to tie the game with 9:40 left in the fourth quarter.
Markkanen, however, had a few baskets in the period to help Finland retire, including a dunk with an exclamation mark with 19 seconds on the clock.
The forward, who spent the 2016-17 season with Arizona, is having quite the tournament averaging 21.8 points per game in four games.
Former Arizona State winger Elias Valtonen also adapted on Sunday, playing 14 minutes for Finland.
The 2023 World Cup will host 32 teams in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines.
