EuroCup Regular Season closes, Top 16 locked
The EuroCup Regular Season has concluded. We know which clubs will be progressing to the next round and which will be ending their continental run this season. The Top 16 is now locked and here is how the day’s action played out.
Nizhny Novgorod vs. Cedevita Zagreb, 82-84
Cedevita Zagreb secured second place in Group A with an edgy road win over Nizhny Novgorod, which finishes third. Both teams had already progressed to the next round, but were jostling for position in this contest. Cedevita led for long periods of the game and held a 51-66 advantage through thirty minutes. The hosts went big in the fourth act with 31 points but the scoring stopped at 82 and Zagreb won it from the free throw line. Marko Tomas paced the win with 20 points, while Kenneth Boynton was fantastic for Nizhny with 31 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Herbalife Gran Canaria Las Palmas vs. MZT Skopje, 87-75
No surprises in the other game as Gran Canaria passed Skopje with ease to finish the standings with a 7-1 record, while MZT’s woes continued and the club finishes its EuroCup Regular Season without a win. The guests held their own in the first half, but a 29 point haul in the first half helped Gran Canaria to a 46-40 lead at the long break. The hosts never looked back and carried the momentum to victory. Royce O’Neale led the win with 23 points and 7 boards.
Khimki Moscow Region vs. Bilbao Basket, 99-78
Khimki completed its Regular Season campaign in style, defeating Bilbao with ease to finish on 6-2. The already confirmed Group B winners plundered 55 points in an offensive masterclass in the first half. Already eliminated Bilbao steadied the ship in the third act and kept it respectable in the fourth to avoid being demolished. Still, the hosts were worthy winners. Alexey Shved set the scoring tone for Khimki with 18 points, while also adding 7 rebounds.
Fuenlabrada vs. Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius, 81-70
Fuenlabrada punched its ticket to the Top 16 with a cruising win over Lietuvos Rytas to finish 4-4. The Vilnius club also qualified for the next round despite losing, thanks to Khimki’s win over Bilbao. A 25-14 winning first quarter set the hosts on a comfortable road to success. By the thirty minute split, Fuenlabrada led 64-50 and cruised through the fourth quarter to victory.
Zenit St. Petersburg vs. Unicaja Malaga, 82-72
Group B was already decided before tonight, but Zenit St. Petersburg wrapped up 2016 with a EuroCup win over travelling Malaga. The win puts the Russians on 6-2 at the top of the standings through eight games, while Unicaja qualifies on 4-4. The game was locked 63 apiece after the third quarter, but Zenit lit up the hardwood in the fourth and drained 29 points that changed the game. Janis Timma was in fine double-double form for the hosts as he secured 33 points and 10 rebounds.
Bayern Munich vs. Buducnost Voli Podgorica, 80-66
In the other Group B contest, Bayern Munich piled the misery on Buducnost with an easy win that pushed the German club to 6-2. The guests, on the other hand, have had a torrid EuroCup Regular Season and finishes the campaign winless on 0-8. After a 16-16 tied first quarter, Bayern took the momentum and stayed a step ahead throughout, largely paced by Maximilian Kleber with 14 points and Nihad Dedovic with 13 points.
Hapoel Jerusalem vs. Ratiopharm Ulm, 69-64
Israeli champ Hapoel Jerusalem downed Ratiopharm Ulm to leapfrog the German club into second place with a 5-3 record, while the guests ended on 4-4. Both clubs had already qualified, but Jerusalem led throughout this game. However, the hosts had to weather a late rally from the visitors but ultimately held on under the scoring of Curtis Jerrells with 20 points and Amare Stoudemire with a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds.