Eurocup Last 32 tips off
The Eurocup is back after the winter rest with the Last 32 tipping off with Round 1 action on Tuesday. There will be sixteen games played through Groups G through N this week, but on Tuesday three contests opened the Eurocup Last 32.
EWE Baskets Oldenburg traveled to Limoges in France and came away with a victory in Group I. There was also a road win for Stelmet Zielona Gora as the Polish team took out Ludwigsburg in Germany to start its Group L campaign with a win. Lastly, Szolnok Olaj collected the only home success of the evening with an 86-75 Group N win over Sassari of Italy.
Limoges vs. EWE Baskets Oldenburg, 78-87
EWE Baskets Oldenburg took out Limoges on the road to open its Eurocup Last 32 with success. The German team kept pace with Limoges in the first quarter and both teams traded buckets to tie 20-20 after ten minutes. The hosts opened up in the second quarter and streamed in 30 points for a sizeable 50-38 advantage at halftime. Oldenburg put together an excellent third act, plundering 27 points and stopping the French team at 12 points to take the lead through thirty minutes (62-65). It was still up for grabs heading into the fourth, but the visitors had the momentum and raced to victory down the straight.
Brian Qvale topped Oldenburg with 18 points, while Nemanja Aleksandrov had a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds. Ricky Paulding was next with 13 points for the winners.
Matt Gatens paced Limoges with 17 points, followed by Nobel Boungou-Colo with 12 points and Will Daniels with 11 points.
MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg vs. Stelmet Zielona Gora, 73-82
Stelmet Zielona Gora overcame MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg on the road at the start of the Eurocup Last 32, fighting back from a large losing first frame deficit. Ludwigsburg had raced in front with a 25-16 winning first quarter, but Gora almost reversed that in the second stanza and trailed by just 3 at halftime (41-38). The visitors from Poland went one better in the third period with a 16-23 run that handed them the lead at the final split, the score reading 57-61. The comeback was completed in the final act as Stelmet took a win from Germany.
Mateusz Ponitka led the winners with 14 points, while Dejan Borovnjak collected 13 points and Dee Bost 11 points. Lukasz Koszarek and Nemanja Djurisic added 10 points apiece.
Jon Brockman scored 12 in the losing effort, with Kerron Johnson and Shawn Hiff hitting 11 points each. Royce O’Neale scored 10 points for Ludwigsburg.
Szolnoki Olaj vs. Dinamo Banco Di Sardegna Sassari, 86-75
Hungarian champion Olaj tasted success over the Italians of Sassari at home largely thanks to a stunning first quarter showing. The hosts nailed 23 points in the first frame, but more impressively managed to stop Sassari at 8 points. The guests improved in the second act and used an 18-22 run to cut the deficit to 41-30 through the long break. In Q3 Sassari continued to press and a 20-24 winning period meant it was anybody’s game through three quarters, the scoreboard reading 61-54. The hosts still had the advantage though and won the fourth stanza to bookend the performance and collect the win.
David Vojvoda led Olaj’s success with 20 points, while Strahsevic Milosevic doubled up with 20 points and 10 boards and Stanley Burrow managed 15 points and 7 assists.
Christian Eyenga had a game high 23 points in defeat, followed by Marquez Haynes with 18 points and 7 scoring passes.