Team GB basketball suffered late heartbreak in their clash with Brazil as they found themselves on the wrong end of a 67-62 scoreline.

Heading into the final quarter, Britain trailed by five but rallied to recapture the advantage with minutes remaining.

However, a three-point basket from Marquinhos Vieira Sousa saw the Brazilians recapture the initiative and they held out for victory.

The host nation lined up with Tottenham’s Pops Mesah-Bonsu starting alongside Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng, while Greenwich-born Dan Clark was on the bench.

The opening quarter was a low-scoring affair which saw both sides initially misfiring in search of their first points.

Brazil’s Alex Garcia and Tiago Splitter did both eventually net for two but Team GB’s wait to get on the scoreboard continued.

Clark emerged from the bench though and was immediately on target, netting Britain’s first six points before Mensah-Bonsu added two more from the free-throw line.

With the clock ticking down, Mike Lenzley shot successfully from deep for three to open up a lead as Brazil were unable to respond, handing Team GB an 11-4 advantage after the first quarter.

The second period saw the scoring start to flow as both sides found the net more regularly but Brazil were able to close the gap.

Splitter and Leandrinho Barbosa led their charge but Britain were doing enough to keep their higher ranked opposition at bay.

Deng and Mensah-Bonsu combined regularly to good effect with both also netting from the free-throw line.

Besiktas forward Mensah-Bonsu was Britain’s top scorer with nine at half time but a late basket from the Brazilians in the dying seconds saw them claw their way back, ensuring the sides were tied at 27-27.

In a game that had struggled for points initially, the third period served up a dozen for both sides within the first five minutes.

Nate Reinking led the British charge with eight but the Brazilians again responded to level the scores at 39-39.

And they proved sharper with their shooting as they opened up a five-point lead at the end of the third quarter, entering the final ten minutes 48-43 up.

Reinking had his shooting eye in for the fourth period and his accuracy duly put Britain back in front.

Clark first netted for three before Reinking added five more to see Team GB recapture the lead at 51-50.

It was the same story though as Brazil responded, but a long three-pointer from Deng kept the home side in contention in a tense final quarter.

And the forward repeated the trick a minute later to once again put the hosts in control in a captivating encounter.

But in a game where the lead kept changing hands, the Brazilians got themselves back in front through Vieira Sousa and this time they held on.

Britain rallied and never gave up the charge but the gap proved too much to close down in the little time to spare, meaning they suffered their second defeat of the Olympic campaign.