GB 59-88 belgium: young brits downed in Newcastle
An inexperienced Great Britain team fell to an 88-59 defeat to Belgium in their penultimate FIBA 2023 World Cup Qualifier in Newcastle.
Head coach Marc Steutel named a new-look young team with a number of established players injured or unavailable.
They lost out to the visiting Belgium team with captain Carl Wheatle (15 points) and Amin Adamu (14) leading the home team’s resistance at the Vertu Motors Arena.
With qualification already out of reach, Steutel had one eye on the future.
He handed debuts to Adamu, Michael Belle, Noah Horchler and Jelani Watson-Gayle and gave further opportunities to the likes of Aaron Menzies and Quinn Ellis, with the latter scoring five points and dishing out four assists.
Belgium took the opening period 19-16, were up 42-26 at the half and led 62-39 going into the final period before wrapping up victory.
GB complete their qualifying campaign in Serbia on Monday.