Eurochallenge season is underway

EurochallengeThe Eurochallenge is underway with a busy schedule of games on day 1. 12 games opened the 2014/2015 edition of the competition with a further four to follow tomorrow. There were a couple of shocks along the way on Tuesday, while a number of big results were also registered on day 1.

Group A

Sodertalje Kings slipped 71-76 at home to Ratiopharm Ulm as the German visitors opened their Eurochallenge campaign with a win. Ulm raced to a 20-24 lead through the first quarter, but the hosts quickly replied with a 22-16 winning second frame. In the third stint the visitors all but closed the game with a 10-18 push (52-58 through 30 minutes) and held off a Sodertalje Kings fight back in the final act.

SPM Shoeters Den Bosch surprised Italian visitors Enel Basket Brindisi to win game one 71-69. The hosts were hot in the opening ten minutes, blitzing Enel to lead 25-10 at the first buzzer. A 15-14 charge in the second meant Den Bosch retained the lead at halftime (40-24). The visitors narrowed the deficit with a 19-22 third period, but after half hour the home team had control at 59-46. Brindisi surged in the final quarter to score 12-23 and make it oh so tight down the stretch. It was so close, but yet so far as the Italians fell.

Group B

Lukoil Academic Sofia shockingly lost at home 75-80 to Kormend, the clubs’ first loss of the campaign and a poor way to tip off the Eurochallenge season. It looked so good for the home team during the opening exchanges and by the end of Q1 Lukoil led 24-14. The double digit lead was demolished in the second stint as Kormend strung a stunning 14-29 run together and stole a 38-43 lead at halftime. The visitors consolidated with a 16-17 winning third quarter and quelled any thoughts of a comeback in the fourth period.

Energia Targu-Jiu cruised past Tartu University Rock 74-56 at home. The first half was split with the home team taking the first quarter 21-15 and Tartu the second 14-19 to make it 35-34 at the midway point. The visitors stole the initiative in the third and through 30 minutes led 46-47. However, Targu-Jiu went big through the fourth quarter with a game winning 28-9 run.

Group C

Bakken Bears welcomed Boras Basket, but could not beat the visitors, losing 79-86 on the night. The Bears took an exciting first frame 23-21, but conceded the second quarter 19-21 to lock the scoreboard at 42 apiece through the long break. Bakken looked to have won the game with a winning 29-18 run in the third (71-60), but Boras exploded by holding hosts to 8 points in the fourth while scoring 26 and taking the win.

Okapi Aalstar demolished the Fraport Skyliners 94-59. A 20-17 first quarter gave the hosts an early lead and they built on it with a hot 38-11 streak in the second stanza to lead 58-28 at halftime. A 17-15 third and 19-17 fourth meant Okapi could ease down the stretch and celebrate an easy win.

Group D

Avtodor managed to move past Tofas with an 80-75 home success, although it was a tight contest that went back and forth. The away team had the better of the first quarter and took a 19-20 lead into the first 10 minute break. Tofas extended with an 18-20 winning second stanza to lead 37-40, but Avtodor went big in the third period with a 27-10 run to make it 64-50 and give themselves a chance. Tofas fought back to win the fourth act comfortably, but could not reclaim the lead.

Group E

Kataja Basket lost at home to French club Nanterre, losing the first Eurochallenge game 70-77. Nanterre used a 14-23 first quarter success to build the victory, extending through the second to lead 28-40. Kataja won the third act 22-20 and made it exciting down the stretch with a winning fourth, but Nanterre had too much in the bank and took the win.

Group F

Trabzonspor put over a century of points on the board as they crushed Atomerömü 103-81 with home court advantage. The Turkish team scored 48 points through the first half, winning the first quarter 25-22 and the second 23-14. Using a 48-36 halftime lead the hosts piled even more points on through a 29-15 run in the third. Despite losing the fourth 26-30, Trabzonspor won the game with plenty to spare.

Group G

Le Mans gunned down Antwerp 72-66 in this French-Belgian clash. The Antwerp Giants looked the better team in the opening frame, pacing to an 18-22 lead. Le Mans hit back by taking the second 21-7, a massive period that gave them a 39-29 halftime lead. The Giants reversed it in the third with a 6-21 lead to make it 45-50 after half hour, but Le Mans used the home crowd to put together a huge 27-16 final stint.

The highest scoring game of the night saw home team KTP Basket defeat Bonprix Biella 108-95. The game started well, with Bonprix taking a 16-21 lead into the second frame. In Q2 the scoring kicked into gear as KTP won the stanza 37-25 (53-46). A 31-18 winning third act gave the hosts the momentum to ride a 24-31 losing fourth quarter and still win the game with ease.

Group H

Siauliai got the better of BC Enisey at home, emerging from a close fought and high scoring encounter with a 93-92 win. There was plenty of action at the bucket throughout as each quarter brought exciting plays to the hardwood. The hosts won the first 25-20 before sinking to a 23-27 loss in the second (48-47). In the second half Siauliai won the third 26-20 and rode the Enisey fight back to scrape a one point winning margin.

1 Comment

  1. outisider on November 5, 2014 at 21:41

    usak had a great game in Turkey, bad start at the game and on the 3rd quarter, the baskets they had scored seemed like raining day

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