The Russian national basketball team beat Macedonia 80-61 in Lithuania on Thursday in its first warm-up game for next month’s Olympic qualifying tournament.

Macedonia led 35-30 at the end of the second quarter, but Russia stormed back to take the lead in the third before going 24-12 in the fourth.

Russia center Sasha Kaun finished as top scorer with 14 points.

On Saturday, Russia is to play Greece in Kaunas, Lithuania, before further warm-up games in the United States against Lithuania and Britain.

Russia failed to qualify outright for the Olympics after losing to France at the semifinal stage of EuroBasket 2011.

The Olympic qualifying tournament will see 12 teams fight for the last three Olympic places.

It will take place in Caracas, Venezuela from July 2 through 8.