Italy claimed a monumental 82-81 road victory over Lithuania in a last-second thriller during FIBA World Cup Qualifying on December 1, 2025. This stunning match result was sealed by a buzzer-beating jump shot, handing basketball giants Lithuania a rare and painful home defeat. In an intense, playoff-like atmosphere, Lithuania led for the majority of the game, with their crowd willing them to victory. Italy chipped away in the fourth quarter, finally taking their first lead with under a minute to play. Lithuania answered with a clutch basket to go up by one with 5 seconds remaining. With no timeouts, Italy advanced the ball and their veteran guard pulled up from just inside the arc, sinking the game-winner as the horn sounded. The standout performance was Italy's resilience and belief in a hostile environment. This win instantly became a landmark victory for Italian basketball, dramatically boosting their qualification hopes and shaking up the group table. The Lithuanian coach lamented a defensive breakdown on the final play.