Luxembourg’s men’s national basketball team;
Credit: FLBB
On Monday 2 March 2026, Luxembourg’s men’s national basketball team suffered their second defeat in the 2029 FIBA EuroBasket pre-qualifiers, following a loss to Ireland in Dublin.
Ken Diederich’s team travelled to Ireland following a 70-79 away defeat to Group A leaders North Macedonia and were sitting second in the standings with two wins, while the hosts had lost their three previous matches.
Ireland opened the game strongly, building an eight-point lead in the first quarter, but were unable to capitalise, as Clancy Rugg (nine points), supported by Max Logelin and Oliver Vujakovic, helped Luxembourg edge ahead 23-22 at the end of the period.
Ireland regained control in the next two quarters, with key contributions from Matthew Zona, Ryan Alexander Leonard and Sean Flood, who each scored ten points. Heading into the final quarter, the hosts led 65-56.
The Red Lions cut the deficit to five points midway through the final quarter, but Ireland did not allow them to come any closer. A mid-range shot from Ben Kovac sealed the final score at 91-85 in favour of the hosts. Clancy Rugg finished as the game’s top scorer with 23 points and eleven rebounds, recording a double-double.
In the other Group A fixture, Azerbaijan suffered a 70-78 home defeat to North Macedonia, who remain top of the group with eight points, while Luxembourg sit second on six.
The next matches in the 2029 FIBA EuroBasket pre-qualifiers will be home fixtures for Ken Diederich’s team. On Thursday 2 July 2026, they will host Azerbaijan, before facing North Macedonia on Sunday 5 July 2026 in a bid for revenge.
