Cyprus vs Croatia

Croatia seized control from the opening tip, outscoring Cyprus 35-12 in the first quarter. The visitors never relented, adding 24-14 in the second to lead 59-26 at halftime. The third quarter was the most lopsided of the night: Croatia 33, Cyprus 10. Croatia closed with a 31-14 fourth quarter, holding Cyprus to 50 points while piling up 123.

Dario Šarić led all scorers with 36 points, while the team shot a staggering 69% from the field (83.3% on two-point attempts). Cyprus managed just 28% from the floor and 24.1% from three-point range. Croatia also dominated the boards and the pace, leading for 38 minutes and 29 seconds of the 40-minute contest.

The game was effectively over by the end of the first quarter. Croatia's 35-12 opening burst — built on 83% two-point shooting and suffocating defence — established a 23-point lead that Cyprus never threatened. The lead swelled to 73 at its peak, and the only remaining drama was whether Hezonja would complete the historic triple-double.

Mario Hezonja (Croatia) — 11 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds, 29 minutes. The Croatian captain produced the first triple-double in FIBA European Qualifiers history, a record that had never been achieved across nine years of the competition. Hezonja's all-around display powered Croatia to their fourth win in five Group E games.

Dario Šarić (Croatia) — 36 points (game-high). The experienced forward was unstoppable inside, exploiting Cyprus's defence with a mix of post moves and mid-range shooting. Šarić's efficiency anchored Croatia's offensive avalanche.

Stefanos Tigkas (Cyprus) — 9 points (team-high efficiency leader). The Cypriot guard was the home side's most effective player on a difficult night, though he had little support as the team shot just 28% from the floor.

Croatia's 69% field-goal shooting (83.3% on twos, 43.5% on threes) reflects a total mismatch in quality and physicality. The 73-point margin is the largest in FIBA World Cup Qualifiers history, surpassing Australia's 72-point win over Guam (139-67) on the same day. The 123 points Croatia scored are the highest in any European Qualifier game in this window. Cyprus's 28% shooting and 24.1% from deep show how little they were able to generate against Croatia's size and length. Croatia led 38:29 of game time; Cyprus led for 1:19 — a brief spell early in the first quarter.

Croatia improved to 4-1 in Group E of the FIBA World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers First Round, strengthening their position ahead of Monday's home fixture against Israel (6 July 2026). A win there would seal their place in the Second Round with a 5-1 record, keeping alive their hopes of reaching the World Cup for the first time since 2014. Cyprus, now 0-5 in the group, are eliminated from Second Round contention.

This was a statement of intent from Croatia: a record-breaking performance that showcased their firepower, depth and the historic individual brilliance of Hezonja. Cyprus were outclassed from the first whistle and had no answer to Croatia's size, shooting and pace. The 73-point margin is one of the most lopsided results in international basketball history.