Pushed by Iceland, Slovenia advances to EuroBasket 2025 Round of 16

Slovenia had to dig deep to overcome a brave Iceland team on Tuesday in Katowice. This 87-79 victory allows the 2017 European champions to secure their ticket to the Round of 16, which will take place in Riga, while also qualifying France for the final phases.

Dončić decisive again despite fouls and 3-point struggles

Despite holding a comfortable 14-point lead late in the third quarter (60-46), Slovenia saw Iceland make a dangerous comeback. The Vikings reduced the gap to just 5 points (70-65) thanks to a long-range 3-pointer from Martin Hermannsson with 6 minutes and 21 seconds remaining.

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Tryggvi Hlinason fouling out with 3 minutes and 26 seconds left dealt a heavy blow to Iceland’s hopes. Gregor Hrovat then hit the decisive 3-pointer from the corner with 45 seconds remaining to seal Slovenia’s victory.

Without recording another triple-double, Luka Dončić remains a decisive factor for the Slovenian national team. The Lakers superstar finished with 26 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Despite a tough afternoon from 3-point range (2 for 10) and 3 early fouls in the first quarter, the Slovenian phenomenon provided the clutch plays and leadership needed for Aleksander Sekulić’s team. He also played as a big man late in the game, facing Iceland’s small-ball lineup.

Luka Doncic carrying his Slovenia 🇸🇮 to the Round of 16 🧡#EuroBasket pic.twitter.com/FIGwrrrKEB

— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 2, 2025

Turnovers played a crucial role in Iceland’s defeat. Craig Pedersen’s team turned the ball over 18 times, allowing Slovenia to score 22 points off these turnovers compared to just 2 for Iceland. This advantage compensated for Iceland’s dominance in the paint (32-26), led by Hlinason who compiled 11 points and 14 rebounds.

Martin Hermannsson delivered his best performance of the 2025 tournament with 22 points and 6 assists, eight years after scoring 18 points against Slovenia in EuroBasket 2017. Iceland remains on a 14-game losing streak in EuroBasket across three appearances and hopes to make history in their final match against France on Thursday at 2 PM in Katowice.