England found European powerhouse Lithuania too strong at the University of Worcester on Tuesday evening as the visiting team chalked up a 78-73 victory.

The home side were made to pay for some poor shooting as they converted just 30 percent of their floor shots, including only two of 12 from three

The visitors scored the first four points of the game, and led by as many as seven at the 4:40 mark following an Arvydas Eitutavicius basket before England closed the first period strongly. A Justin Robinson shot launched a 14-4 which put Paul James’ team in control as they went into the first break 22-19 ahead.

Lithuania also opened the second period well, hitting the first five points before Matthew Bryan-Amaning broke the drought with 7:26 on the clock.

It continued to be a close game with the visitors leading for a long spell before an Ashley Hamilton basket followed by one-from-two foul shooting from the same player sent England into the locker room 43-42 ahead.

Valdas Vasylius opened the second half scoring for Lithuania, and the visitors gradually built their lead to a game-high nine points going into the final two minutes of the third quarter.

But England refused to lie down, and four straight free-throws from Plymouth Raiders' Taner Adu cut the Lithuanian lead to 62-58 at the final break.

A basket from Everton Tigers shooting guard James Jones cut Lithuania’s lead to 68-64 at the midway stage of the fourth period, but an Adas Juskevicius trey made it 73-64 going into the final four minutes. Matthew Bryan-Amaning trimmed the deficit, and with Jones draining from downtown the teams were level at 73 going into the final minute.

But that was as good as it got for England as Lithuania closed out the game strongly, and James’ team will look to bounce back when the sides meet again.

England coach James - who is also Worcester Wolves' head coach - was left wondering what might have been if they had been more clinical from the charity stripe: “It was a very good game, we rose to the occasion and played at a high level for the majority of the game” he said.

“Our downfall was that we couldn’t hit a free-throw, we created plenty of opportunities and to the foul line 39 times, but if you only score 22 of them it’s hard to put a team under pressure consistently. “