FIBA Basketball Champions League roundup

FIBA Basketball Champions LeagueRound 4 of the FIBA Basketball Champions League is underway and we are at the midway point of the group stage. The standings are now taking shape, although there is still a long way to go in the Regular Season of the first ever Champions League campaign.

Group A

Fraport Skyliners outclassed CEZ Nymburk in Frankfurt, picking up a 74-61 victory to move to 2-2 in the standings. Defeat for Czech champs Nymburk puts them on 2-2 also, with all to play for in the middle of the table. The guests had control of the game through halftime with a 30-40 lead, but the Skyliners turned it around with a 21-5 third act and carried the momentum to victory.

Home success also came to Helios Suns, the club defeating Bakken Bears with a classy 78-59 victory. The win improves Helios Suns to 1-3, still with a mountain to climb. Bakken is struggling in the FIBA Basketball Champions League with a losing 0-4 record. Tomaz Kyzlink topped the victory with 21 points and 4 rebounds.

Group B

Kataja Basket was too strong for Khimik on the road with an 82-88 victory. Khimik now slips to 1-3 and is jumped by Kataja with its 2-2 record. The guests led for large periods of the game and built on its 55-63 lead through thirty minutes to hold off a fourth act rally by the hosts. Daniel Mullings was an all-round threat for the win with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Pinar Karsiyaka Izmir edged out Avtodor Saratov 74-76 to claim an important win to send the club to 3-1 for a share for the lead at the top of the standings. Avtodor’s loss means the Russian club moves down to 2-2. Karsiyaka built its win in the opening three quarters and defended despite a poor fourth act in which the Turkish club managed just 10 points.

Le Mans Sarthe Basket continued its good form in the FIBA Basketball Champions League with a comfortable 72-61 home win over Oradea. Le Mans moves to 3-1 at the top, with Oradea struggling at the bottom of the standings with a 1-3 record. Giordan Watson topped the French club with a game high 24 points.

Group C

PAOK was undone by ASVEL Lyon, with the French team collecting a 61-67 road win. Because of this result, the two clubs are now locked in mid-table with 2-2 records. Lyon was in charge 31-35 through halftime and surged again with a 14-18 run in the fourth quarter. DeMarcus Nelson was good for 17 points in the win.

Rosa Radom took an 83-77 win over USAK to move to 2-2 alongside Lyon and PAOK in Group C. USAK continues to blunder its way through the competition and slips to 1-3. This was a close contest, however, and was decided in overtime after the scoreboard read 72-72 at regulation. Rosa Radom soared in the added period to snatch the win.

Group D

Juventus Utena travelled to Mega Leks and secured a 77-79 narrow win on the road. The victory pushes Juventus to 3-1, while Mega Leks falls to a disappointing 1-3. The guests looked in control through three quarters with a 49-61 advantage. However, the hosts compiled a huge 28-18 fourth act to make it a lot closer than it should have been at the final buzzer.

Sidigas Avellino slipped at home to Oostende, with the Belgian club taking a 72-77 away win to move to 1-3, its first win of the season. The guests plundered 45 points through the middle quarters, a run that ultimately made the difference at the close of the game. DJ Newbill secured 19 points and 4 rebounds for the win.

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