First loss of Ludwigsburg in FIBA Champions League

Banco di Sardegna Sassari’s Basketball Champions League playoff hopes could have been in jeopardy with another loss, but they responded with an 82-75 home win over previously unbeaten MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg.

This was the first game this season in which Sassari gave up fewer than 87 points.

Sassari have now won 13 of their last 15 games in the BCL when they have conceded 75 or fewer points.

On the other hand, Ludwigsburg has now lost 12 of their last 13 league games in which they have scored fewer than 80 points.

Ludwigsburg’s 8 points in the first quarter were also their lowest-scoring quarter of the BCL season so far.

Sassari’s David Logan dished out 10 assists, the most for him in a single BCL game in 24 appearances.

This was also Logan’s first double-double in the BCL, as he scored 11 points along with his 10 assists.

Turning point: Ludwigsburg caught fire to start the third quarter and jumped out to a 13-0 run, with Justin Simon scoring eight of those points.

When it looked like Ludwigsburg might start to pull away, Sassari eventually got things together and finished the third quarter on a 6-0 run to go up 59-51, heading into the final quarter.

Seven turnovers in the fourth quarter doomed Ludwigsburg in the end as they tried to come back.

Game hero: Eimantus Bendzius finished with 17 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists on 6-of-11 shooting from the field and 5-of-9 from three-point.

Stats don’t lie: Sassari outscored Ludwigsburg 24-14 in points from turnovers and had a wide margin in made three-pointers, knocking down six more than Ludwigsburg (13-7).

Sassari also doubled Ludwigsburg in assists (26-13).

Bottom line: Simon’s 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals ultimately weren’t enough for Ludwigsburg to get over the hump.

His 26 points were the most he’s scored in a single BCL game and the most for any Ludwigsburg player since Marcos Knight scored 27 against Anwil in January 2019.

Sassari is now 1-3 and currently sit in third place in Group A.

The Italian club will travel to face Prometey in their next game on Dec. 8.

Ludwigsburg, meanwhile, is now 3-1 and remains in first place in the group.

The German club will travel to face Lenovo Tenerife next on Dec. 8.