12 Giant Men defeat Hungary by a large margin

The Turkish Men's National Basketball Team faced Hungary at the Basketball Development Center in the third match of Group B in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers. The 12 Giant Men started the game with a starting five of Şehmus Hazer, Cedi Osman, Furkan Haltalı, Ercan Osmani, and Kenan Sipahi. The visiting team, Hungary, took the court with Benedek Varadi, Szilard Benke, Gyorgy Goloman, Zoltan Perl, and Nate Reuvers.

While Hungary started the game with a 2-point basket by Goloman, the 12 Giant Men took a 7-2 lead with consecutive points from Furkan Haltalı, Kenan Sipahi, and Ercan Osmani. The national team established a 17-11 lead with 4 minutes and 25 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Hungary, capitalizing on the positions they found in offense, did not allow the gap to widen. The first period ended with a 27-20 lead for Turkey.

The first 2 minutes of the second period, which began with mutual turnovers and fouls, saw 3 points from Hungary, one of which was from the free-throw line. The Crescent-Stars were only able to produce 4 points in the first 4 minutes of the quarter through Cedi Osman and Şehmus Hazer. Hungary, displaying an effective game under the basket, reduced the gap to 3 points with 4 minutes and 32 seconds left in the period (34-31). After the timeout, the 12 Giant Men increased the lead to 6 points with a 3-point basket by Cedi Osman. Finding points from behind the free-throw line with Şehmus Hazer and Kenan Sipahi, the national team entered the break with a 43-37 lead.

In the third period, Turkey increased the lead to 12 points in the first 5 minutes with points from Şehmus Hazer, Ercan Osmani, and Cedi Osman (54-42). While Hungary struggled to score in the third quarter, they could only find 6 points with 3 minutes left in the period. Ergin Ataman called a timeout after Hungary's consecutive 3-point baskets in the final part of the quarter. Returning from the timeout, the 12 Giant Men responded to Hungary with 3-point baskets from Sarper David Mutaf and Şehmus Hazer. Taking control of the game both in offense and defense, the Crescent-Stars finished the quarter with a 13-point lead at 62-49.

In the final quarter, which started with mutual points, Turkey did not allow the gap to close. Backed by the support of the spectators, the 12 Giant Men increased the lead to 17 points with points from Cedi Osman from behind the three-point line and the free-throw line (70-53). The national team reached a 20-point lead with 4 minutes and 24 seconds remaining (75-55). Not losing control of the game in the final section, the Turkish Men's National Basketball Team won the match with a score of 92-66.

With this result, the 12 Giant Men achieved their second victory in their third match in Group B of the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers.

The top scorer of the match was Şehmus Hazer, who played with 25 points for the National Team. Cedi Osman recorded 21 points and Ercan Osmani scored 17 points for the National Team. For Hungary, Zoltan Perl scored 16 points.

Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak also followed the match from the arena.

The Turkish Men's National Basketball Team will face Hungary away at the Savaria Arena on Monday, November 25. If the national team wins the match, they will guarantee their participation in FIBA EuroBasket 2025.