BYDGOSZCZ, Poland (AP) Defending champion Russia edged Macedonia 71-69 Tuesday to reach the quarterfinals of the European basketball championship.

Center Timofey Mozgov had 25 points and 11 rebounds for Russia. Macedonia had a chance to tie the game in the closing seconds after Russia threw the ball away with 5.9 seconds to play.

But Macedonia guard Dimitar Mirakovski's runner in the lane bounced out at the buzzer and Russia hung on for the win, despite shooting just 1 of 15 on 3-pointers.

"We needed to look really far down deep in ourselves to win that ballgame because it was looking pretty bleak," Russia coach David Blatt said. "But in the end, we found it, and I am proud of what we have done and am looking forward to next stage."