They were beaten 73-62 in Slovakia after entering the last five minutes trailing by only a single point. Britain's next match is against Holland at Meadowbank, Edinburgh, on Saturday.

 

Coach Chris Finch opted to leave 19-year-old NBA draftee Joel Freeland and started with an experienced line-up, including 38-year old veteran Roger Huggins for the first time in five years and 32-year-old Chris Haslam at the Spisska Nova Ves.

 

The long-term objective is for Great Britain to be given a hosts' berth in the 2012 Olympics, something that is by no means certain after years in the international wilderness and they must reach a certain standard before the place can be secured.

 

Huggins would not be playing in 2012 but the idea still excites him. "It would be great to watch a Great Britain team at the Olympics - but we have to get through this first," he said. "None of these games are easy but if we smarten up a bit, then we have a chance.

 

"I'm very glad I came back - I love playing for my country and I feel honoured that Chris asked me to play."

 

But Huggins was disappointed the team did not push on to win having done so well for so long "With the type of team we have - young and explosive - I thought we'd make the surge to win he game," he said.

 

"I don't know if the reason why we didn't was mental - we did lose our heads a bit. After moving the ball well to stay in the game we took a couple of ill-advised shots and they got away to score off them."

 

The same mistake must not be repeated against Holland. "We have to beat them," Huggins said. "Slovakia weren't a better team than us. If we can play with the same defensive control we showed today and get a few scoring spurts then we can beat Holland."