SHENZHEN, 22 Aug. - Ernestas EZERSKIS (LTU) lifted a lacklustre Lithuania from an 11-point half-time deficit to a thrilling 76-74 victory and the men's basketball bronze medal against Russia at Main Gymnasium of Universiade Center on Monday.

With the score tied at 74 and five seconds to play, Lithuania took its last timeout and devised a play for a final shot at winning the game and the medal.

But the final play wasn't required as Ivan SAVELYEV (RUS) was called for a foul on Edgaras STANIONIS (LTU) as the ball was inbounded, sending the Lithuanian to the free-throw line. STANIONIS calmly hit the decisive free throws and sealed a result that seemed unlikely for much of the match.

While STANIONIS hit the winning points, it was the energy of EZERSKIS that propelled his tired teammates to victory when they looked well and truly beaten. By late in the fourth quarter, EZERSKIS was feeling so good he banked a three-pointer from a metre beyond the arc to cap his 25-point performance.

Russia controlled the rebounds and the match until well into the third term when, with the tide turning, star forward Anatoly KASHIROV (RUS) intentionally pulled Julius JUCIKAS (LTU) to the ground in the paint, earning his fifth foul and a seat on the bench for the remainder of the game.

From that point, Lithuania looked certain for victory, leading by as many as seven in the final term before Petr GUBANOV (RUS) dragged his team back into the game, knocking down crucial baskets and playing tough defence that denied Lithuanian go-to man Gediminas ORELIK (LTU) any open shots.

GUBANOV was forced to play a lone hand for Russia in the closing term with Ivan NELYUBOV (RUS) and Igor SMYGIN (RUS) also fouling out of the match. The exhausted GUBANOV had 16 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter.

A crucial moment came at 71-71 when a screen left ORELIK backing the undersized SAVELYEV down to the hoop, the resultant three-point play putting Lithuania ahead 74-71 with 1:12 to play.

GUBANOV then hit two more free-throws and SAVELYEV made one of two to square the scores at 74 before being called for the match-deciding foul.

After watching STANIONIS put Lithuania up 76-74, the distraught SAVELYEV took the ball from the inbounds and charged up the court looking to draw a foul, but his drive was to no avail.