In Europe Basketball Championship Qualifying action on July 22, Bulgaria earned an 83-71 home win against Austria. The Bulgarian side used a strong second-half push to pull away from a determined Austrian team and claim a valuable victory in group play. The contest was closely fought for the first two quarters, with Austria matching Bulgaria's intensity. However, after the break, Bulgaria increased their defensive pressure and found a more fluid offensive groove, creating a decisive run that gave them a double-digit cushion. Key contributions from Bulgaria's frontcourt players in scoring and rebounding proved to be the difference-maker in the contest. This win provided Bulgaria with crucial momentum early in the qualification phase, while Austria was left to analyze a promising performance that ultimately fell short in the final stages.