ASVEL get past EWE Baskets as Kahudi makes debut
VILLEURBANNE (Basketball Champions League) - ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne secured a crucial win in Group C with a 76-69 defeat of EWE Baskets Oldenburg.
French National Team veteran Charles Kahudi made his Basketball Champions League debut with 13 points, to help ASVEL go two games clear of the Germans in the standings at 7-2.
The win could have further implications later on in the season with ASVEL going 2-0 against EWE, taking the tie-breaker with the season sweep.
"It was a tough game to win but I thought we did a really good job," said JD Jackson, ASVEL Head Coach.
"(We) controlled the tempo, not too many turnovers. It was an important win for us, now we've put them two games behind us and we can set our sights on Neptunas next week."
Bandja Sy finished with 10 points and one big dunk, whilst Nikola Dragovic joined him in double figures with 10.
BA BA BA BA @BandjaSy !!!!! En haute altitude pour l'@ASVEL_Basket en @BasketballCL avec @georgeeddy2 ! pic.twitter.com/MlyLKyXbYW
— Le Basket Sur CANAL (@BasketSurCanal) December 13, 2016
Neither team were able to gain an edge early, with the first quarter being a back and forth affair with multiple lead changes.
It was in the second period where ASVEL gained control and appeared to be comfortably ahead until EWE responded after the break, tying the game up at 52 with two minutes left in the third period on a Kramer basket.
ASVEL turned it up from there, led by Charles Kahudi who knocked down a quick 5 points to finish the period and switching the gears defensively in the final quarter to pull away and secure the win.
Ricky Paulding led EWE Baskets with 15 points on 5 of 9 shooting.
