Eurocup Eighthfinals: four progress
Game 2 of the Eurocup Eighthfinals got underway on Tuesday with four games that decided four of the teams that will progress to the quarter-finals. The Eurocup Eighthfinals will be completed on Wednesday with another four clubs making it through to the next round.
Interestingly, none of the winning clubs from last week managed to hold on to their advantages, allowing the losing clubs to fight back to qualify.
Bayern Munich vs. ALBA Berlin, 84-75
After locking 82-82 last week, it was all to play for in this all-German contest, although with home advantage Bayern Munich had the edge. And so it proved as the Bavarian giant downed ALBA Berlin to punch its ticked for the next round with a 166-157 aggregate score. The hosts had opened a double digit lead through halftime, leading 44-34 to look secure in front of its own fans. ALBA rallied briefly in the third act to make it 60-54 through thirty minutes, but Munich found a rhythm again in the fourth act to close the win.
Alex Renfroe and Dusko Savanovic led the win with 17 points, while Anton Gavel added 15 points.
Will Cherry was the game high scorer with 18 points for ALBA Berlin, followed by Jordan Taylor with 13 points and Elmedin Kikanovic with 12 points.
EWE Baskets Oldenburg vs. Strasbourg, 64-93
From a leading position, EWE Basket Oldenburg crumbled at home in the face of a red hot Strasbourg, the French club fighting back from a 76-78 home loss last week to win 169-142 over two legs. The visitors exploded from the tip off and took a 14-27 lead through the first quarter and consolidated in the second for a 35-48 advantage. The onslaught resumed in the third act as Strasbourg used a 14-25 run to kill the game and progress from the Eurocup Eighthfinals.
Rodrigue Beaubois and Mardy Collins plundered 16 points in victory, while Collins added 7 assists. Kyle Weems scored 14 points and Matt Howard had a double-double of 11 points and 11 boards.
Klemen Prepelic led the losing effort with 13 points.
Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. CAI Zaragoza, 79-65
CAI Zaragoza could not build on its 85-83 success in Spain last week and fell to Italian club Trento with an aggregate score of 162-148. A very tight first half saw the teams trade buckets and the lead, before tying proceedings through the long break, 33-33. The third act proved decisive as the hosts took control with a 26-16 run that put 10 points between the teams at 59-49. Trento extended with a winning fourth period to seal the victory.
Julian Wright led the win with 21 points and 8 rebounds, while Davide Pascolo scored 16 points and added 6 rebounds.
Joan Sastre paced Zaragoza with 16 points, followed by Issac Fotu with 12 points.
Galatasaray Istanbul vs. Pinar Karsiyaka Izmir, 93-65
Galatasaray was in blistering form in this all-Turkish clash, taking out TBL champs Karsiyaka in a display of offensive prowess. The Istanbul team also overturned a 67-64 loss last week to make it 157-132 on aggregate. The game was close early on (20-20 through Q1), but Galatasaray signaled things to come by opening a 43-32 lead at the midway buzzer. The hosts exploded in the second half with 50 points, plenty enough to demolish Karsiyaka’s Eurocup season.
Erik McCollum topped the win with 21 points, while Schlib added 17 points, followed by Caleb Green and Stephane Lasme with 13 points.
Kenny Gabriel stood out for the losing team with 18 points.