LJUBLJANA (Slovenia) - Mantas Juzenas finished the FIBA U20 EuroBasket 2026 group stage with a performance for the ages as he broke both the single-game scoring and efficiency records.
Juzenas poured in 46 points in Lithuania's 112-67 blowout win over Poland. The forward nailed 18 of 26 shots - including 7 of 13 three-pointers - as well as 3 of 3 free throws to set the new single game record. Juzenas hit two triples in the final two minutes to snap the record and then returned to the bench for congratulations from his teammates.
"It's crazy to have the most points scored and the most efficiency. This is the moment I have forever dreamed of. I'm super proud of myself, super proud of the team for getting this win," Juzenas said. "It’s the most crazy, emotional feeling. I have worked so hard for this. These last couple of months."
The Saint Mary's Gaels forward had averaged 11.0 points on 31.8 percent shooting in the first two games of the competition. And he thanked his parents for the turn-around.
"It’s the most crazy, emotional feeling. I have worked so hard for this. These last couple of months."
"The first couple of games I was struggling. My parents just kept saying: 'Keep believing in yourself. Everything will come your way.' And everything came my way. And I am just super thankful to god for giving me this opportunity to play this game. I am just at a loss for words."
Juzenas' total broke the previous mark of 45 set by North Macedonia's Vlado Ilievski in 2000 against Lithuania. The highest previous outburst for a Lithuanian player was 38 by Mantas Rubstavicius against France in 2022.
Single-game points leaders
Rank | Player | Team | Opposition | Year | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Lithuania | Poland | 2026 | 46 | |
2. | MKD | Lithuania | 2000 | 45 | |
= | France | Ukraine | 2008 | 45 | |
4. | Slovenia | Lithuania | 2006 | 44 | |
5. | Spain | Ukraine | 2011 | 41 | |
6. | Ukraine | Türkiye | 2002 | 39 | |
= | Russia | Serbia | 2008 | 39 | |
8. | Ukraine | Lithuania | 2008 | 38 | |
= | Lithuania | France | 2022 | 38 | |
10. | Lithuania | Yugoslavia | 2000 | 37 | |
= | Croatia | France | 2002 | 37 | |
= | Spain | Russia | 2011 | 37 |
Juzenas added 12 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal for an efficiency of 55, which topped the previous record of 49 by Ukraine's Serhiy Lishchuk against Türkiye in 2002.
Single-game efficiency leaders
Rank | Player | Team | Opposition | Year | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Lithuania | Poland | 2026 | 55 | |
2. | Ukraine | Türkiye | 2002 | 49 | |
3. | Montenegro | Latvia | 2019 | 48 | |
4. | Spain | Ukraine | 2011 | 47 | |
5. | Spain | Slovenia | 2025 | 46 | |
6. | France | Ukraine | 2008 | 45 | |
= | Türkiye | Georgia | 2012 | 45 | |
= | Lithuania | Ukraine | 2015 | 45 | |
9. | Montenegro | Romania | 2018 | 42 | |
10. | Croatia | Israel | 2002 | 41 | |
= | Slovenia | Lithuania | 2006 | 41 | |
= | MKD | Hungary | 2007 | 41 | |
= | Slovenia | Russia | 2004 | 41 |
FIBA