Linas Kleiza had 22 points and Sarunas Jasikevicius 20 to lead Lithuania to a 99-67 trouncing of Iran on Tuesday in a preliminary-round Group A match at the Olympic men's basketball tourney.
The Asian champions had a quick start to lead 20-15 in the first quarter, but Lithuania scored 18 straight points to crush Iranians' confidence.
Iran never recovered from that blow and saw themselves down by 74-53 at the end of the third quarter. Lithuania put on bench players to finish the victory.
Hamed Ehadadi led Iran by 21 points, nine rebounds, four blocks and three steals, but also committed eight turnovers.
(Xinhua News Agency August 12, 2008)