Team GB beat Puerto Rico in the Copper Box

The Copper Box arena was filled with a capacity crowd as Team GB picked up the win against Puerto Rico in Stratford.

Without the likes of Luol Deng, Joel Freeland and Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Great Britain has to include some lesser-known faces in their Eurobasket squad.

But the team performed admirably at the Box that rocks, to pick up a 61-55 victory in their first game at the Olympic venue.

Lawrence, Sullivan, Johnson, Boateng and Achara all started for the team in Joe Prunty's first game in charge of his new squad.

Achara made his 50th appearance for the team and performed well to secure the MVP award with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

The first quarter was a tight affair with Lawrence hitting an early 3-pointer and Achara getting two free throws.

De Jesus and Belardo replied for Puerto Rico who looked ready to give the GB players a real test ahead of their travels.

Puerto Rico led at the end of the first quarter with the scoreline 15-14 in their favour, Lawrence top scoring with five points for GB.

The second quarter began to lean in the favour of Puerto Rico who at one point led 21-14, but six points without reply from Sullivan bought GB back into the game.

The score at the half-time interval was 30-30 despite GB leading 30-26 with just less than a minute remaining.

It was a slow start to the second half but Lawrence eventually opened the scoring with two free throws to give GB the lead.

Belardo hit back with a three but Drew Sullivan immediately responded with a two of his own to give GB a slight advantage.

Johnson then took over the scoring got a couple of baskets with Van Oostrum chipping in to give GB a more comfortable lead.

A massive block by Eric Boateng which led to Robinson getting a two was a pivotal point in the game.

Puerto Rico cut GB's lead and the score at the end of the 3rd quarter was GB 44-42 Puerto Rico, Lawrence again leading the scoring with nine.

The fourth quarter saw GB take complete control, Sullivan opening the scoring before a BIG three pointer by Ogo Adegboye.

GB now led by nine points with Puerto Rico yet to score in the fourth quarter, GB holding out for almost half of the quarter.

A few free throws allowed Puerto Rico to cut the gap to six points, but GB fought back to lead by ten points with just a minute remaining.

Puerto Rico closed the gap but only to six points as Team GB came out 61-55 winners at the Copper Box.

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