BASKETBALL / EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS : Russia Surprises Croatia, Plays Germany in Final

Russia, led by Sergei Bazarevich’s 25 points, stunned unbeaten Croatia, 84-76, Friday to advance to the gold medal game of the European Basketball Championships.

Germany defeated Greece, 76-73, in the other semifinal, a game that was followed by physical confrontations between Greek fans and German police.

The Greek fans were grouped in one section of the arena and after the game some pushed chairs and got into scuffles with security guards and police. Police then started chasing fans through the stands and the halls of the arena, some beating fans as they caught up with them.

Some guards tried to prevent television cameramen from filming the scenes, and at least one Greek photographer had his cameras thrown to the ground.

Croatia, the silver medalist at the Barcelona Olympics, entered the semifinals with a 7-0 record despite playing a month after the death of guard Drazen Petrovic in an auto accident and without forward Toni Kukoc, who is recovering from tonsillitis.

Russia led by six points at halftime and Croatia couldn’t pull closer until midway through the second half, when Velimir Perasovic made two free throws to bring the Croatians within 61-60.

Sergei Panov and Vladimir Gorine made consecutive three-pointers for Russia and when Mikhail Mikhailov completed a three-point play with 2:50 left, Russia led, 79-66.

“I knew we would succeed,” Panov said. “Today, everything was running perfectly for our team. We were always one step ahead of the Croats.”