FIBA Europe Cup 2021-22 campaign reaches halfway stage of the Regular Season
15 games took place on an eventful Wednesday as the FIBA Europe Cup 2021-22 campaign reached the halfway stage of the Regular Season, with some teams already eyeing the Play-Offs.
Rilski Sportist boosted their hopes of making it past the group phase as they outscored Kyiv-Basket 31-9 in the final quarter to secure their first win of the competition. Brandon Brown led the way with a 27-point haul in the 96-80 triumph against their previously unbeaten opponents in Samokov.
Benfica improved to a 2-1 record in Group C as they came from behind to deny Opava a first win, with Travis Munnings contributing 22 points, six rebounds, and six assists in the 99-89 overtime triumph. The Portuguese side overturned an 11-point deficit with around five minutes remaining in regulation.
Donar Groningen also needed an extra five minutes to pick up a win – their first – on the road with a battling display to overcome Kapfenberg Bulls 89-85 in an important Group A clash. Henry Caruso was all over the stat sheet for the visitors with 22 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks in the win, with Thomas Koenis adding a 12-10-6 line.
London Lions took control of Group A as they defeated medi Bayreuth 91-81 in a battle between previously unbeaten sides. The hosts made their move in the second frame with a 13-2 run and recorded their third straight victory as Dirk Williams top-scored with 20 points.
Parma-Parimatch inflicted the first loss on Heroes Den Bosch with a 67-52 success, with Artsiom Parakhouski collecting 17 rebounds in the win, to go with his 9 points, as the two teams are now in a three-way tie also involving Benfica at the top of Group C.
Russia had more joy as Avtodor Saratov recorded an emphatic 102-62 victory over Hapoel Gilboa Galil to maintain their unbeaten start in Group D. DJ Funderburk finished with 18 points as the leading scorer off the bench, with Kenny Chery adding 17 points along with nine assists.
Bakken Bears claimed their first win in Group G as they came out on top in a high-scoring encounter to beat Tsmoki-Minsk 101-93 behind 25 points from Ryan Evans on 9-of-10 shooting. Meanwhile, HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim recorded a 76-66 success away at Peristeri Vitabiotics as TJ Shorts netted a game-high of 21 points.
Hapoel Eilat earned an 88-85 triumph on the road against Trefl Sopot, having seen a 19-point advantage cut down to just a single point in a frantic finish in Gdansk. Bryon Allen top-scored in the win with 22 points, while Yannick Franke led the hosts with 23 points, nine rebounds, and four assists in defeat.
Nemanja Gordic posted a double-double of 16 points and ten assists to help lead Mornar Bar to a comfortable 88-65 victory against Iraklis BC, who dropped to 0-3 in Group E, while Bahcesehir College kept their perfect record as Jamar Smith hit six triples in a 26-point outing in their 79-69 win at ZZ Leiden.
Elsewhere, Unahotels Reggio Emilia picked up a 76-67 win over this season’s debutants Casademont Zaragoza with Mouhamet Diouf posting a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds in a balanced scoring attack.
Legia Warszawa moved to 3-0 in Group H. They defeated FC Porto 71-61, with CSM CSU Oradea ending their losing start as they overcame Szolnok for a 75-58 success on the road in Hungary with five players in double figures.
Telenet Giants Antwerp were another side to make it three wins from three as they defeated Belfius Mons-Hainaut 77-63, despite a 27-point haul from Emmanuel Nzekwesi. On Tuesday, Sporting CP defeated Ionikos BC 87-64 in Group F behind 20 points and five assists from Travante Williams.