Eurocup Regular Season: Nancy and Oldenburg win
We are in the penultimate week of the 2015/2016 Eurocup Regular Season and Round 9 tipped off on Tuesday with two contests.
There were two road wins on the night as EWE Baskets Oldenburg enhanced its chances of progressing from the Eurocup Regular Season with a win over Nanterre in Group A. In Group C, Nancy took out Charleroi away from home, but both clubs need favours from elsewhere this week if they are to remain in the competition.
Group A
JSF Nanterre vs. EWE Baskets Oldenburg, 83-92
EWE Baskets Oldenburg traveled to France and left with a win over Nanterre that pushes the club a step closer to making the Last 32. Indeed, the Germans will qualify in fourth place (4-5) if Trento defeats Bonn on Wednesday. If that does not happen EWE Baskets will go into Round 10 of the Eurocup Regular Season, which is what Nanterre needs if it is to rescue qualification.
The visitors swept Nanterre this season with some classy stuff in the third quarters, but for much of the game the teams traded buckets. Through the first quarter the teams locked on 22-22 and in the second the tight contest continues, although EWE Baskets Oldenburg edged the first half by a single point, 39-40. The third act proved the difference as the Germans plundered 27 points and stopped Nanterre at 18 points to make it 57-67 after thirty minutes. The hosts picked up the scoring in Q4 and rallied with 25 points, but the French club could not stop Oldenburg at the other end.
Vaughn Duggins led the winners with 22 points, while Brian Qvale added 19 points and 5 rebounds. Klemen Prepelic followed with 15 points and Ricky Paulding drained 14 points.
Gerald Robinson was the pick of Nanterre with 20 points, followed by Mykal Riley with 15 points and Jeremy Nzeulie with 12 points.
Proximus Spirou Charleroi vs. SLUC Nancy, 81-86
It was an evening of snapped streaks in Belgium as SLUC Nancy halted its losing run at four games, while hosts Charleroi finally slipped after three consecutive wins. As for the Last 32 picture, both teams remain in the hunt but need favours from elsewhere. That means is Ratiopharm Ulm downs CAI Zaragoza tomorrow that both Charleroi and Nancy will be eliminated at the Eurocup Regular Season stage.
Nancy eased into the first quarter, but as the first frame buzzer sounded the French club had opened a 17-22 lead. The Belgian hosts struck back in an exciting second act, streaming 24 points to make it 41-43 to Nancy at the long break. Still anyone’s game though, but Charleroi failed to carry the momentum and the guests won Q3 14-17 to lead 55-60 with ten minutes to play. Nancy handled the home team well in the final quarter to maintain its advantage at the close of play.
Benjamin Sene topped the winners with 20 points, while Andy Panko scored 16 points and 8 rebounds. Mickael Pietrus managed 14 points and 9 rebounds in the success, but Derwin Kitchen went one better with a double-double of 13 points and 10 boards.
Billy Baron was the only Charleroi player to score in double digits, but he was hot with 26 points for the losing effort.