On the final day of an ultra-competitive Group C, the South Americans were threatening to complete an impressive fightback but with 14 seconds left, Brazil¡¯s hero for the game, Tiago Splitter, missed a lay-up.

Arvydas Macijauskas grabbed the rebound before clinching the victory with three free throws to take his tally to a game-high 21 points.

Splitter was sensational in defeat, scoring 17 on seven of 12 shooting, and he pulled down seven boards, dished out two assists, came up with three steals and blocked one shot.

The loss means that Australia, who won earlier in the day, join Greece, Turkey and Lithuania in Saitama for the knockout round.

Lithuania hit their stride immediately and opened up a 35-12 lead by the end of the first quarter, making five of their first six three-pointers.

They enjoyed their biggest advantage when Macijauskas went in for a lay-up to make it 43-24 with 6:37 to play in the first half.

Brazil closed the gap to 11 points (48-37) by half-time, though, as Lithuania turned the ball over 14 times.

Early in the second half, the Brazilians cut the gap to 48-41 on Splitter¡¯s jumper in the lane, and Lithuania didn¡¯t score until Mindaugas Zukauskas¡¯ reverse lay-up with 5:48 to go in the third period.

Splitter hit another jumper to make it 50-45, but Darius Songaila stepped forward and hit back-to-back baskets to take the lead back to 54-45.

What happened next almost killed Brazil¡¯s hopes.

Linas Kleiza bulled his way into the lane and scored over Alex Garcia, who was furious that no charge was called and the referees hit the guard ¨C he was playing at forward in Brazil¡¯s small line-up ¨C with a technical.

Kleiza made both technical free throws, and Darius Lavrinovic dunked to make a four-point swing off Alex¡¯s loss off composure.

The Lithuanians struggled in their offense and committed turnover after turnover, though ¨C they had 27 for the game ¨C and Brazil came back again.

Marcelinho¡¯s three-pointer at the start of the fourth quarter triggered a 13-0 run, capped by Leandro Barbosa¡¯s three to make it 64-62 Lithuania.

Giedrus Gustas, who lost the starting point guard position in the first four games, came to the fore and nailed a three-pointer, but Nezinho replied from the arc and it was 67-65 for Lithuania.

Macijauskas struck twice, the second time with a three-ball, and Lithuania held a 72-65 advantage.

But Nezinho again buried a three, and after Splitter, Barbosa and Nezinhos each made one of two free throws, Brazil trailed 72-71.

Gustas again stepped up and hit a three, but Brazil refused to go away.

Anderson Varejao¡¯s jumper made it 75-73, and after Kleiza charged, Alex had a chance to tie the game but yet again, he was able to make just one of two from the line to leave Lithuania ahead at 75-74.

That set the stage for Gustas to make one of two, and Splitter missed his shot with 14 seconds left to seal victory for Lithuania.

Antanas Sireika, the Lithuania coach, said: "Tonight we played a very tough game. A lot of periods we didn't play well, the quality wasn¡¯t very good, but we still won so I'm happy.

"You can't plan things ahead. Tonight we felt almost the same scenario like what happened yesterday with Greece and Brazil, but happily we won."