Red-hot Balazic leads Gaziantep past Capo D'Orlando
GAZIANTEP (Basketball Champions League) - Gaziantep fended off a late comeback by SikeliArchivi Capo D'Orlando on Tuesday night to win their Group B opener, 82-77.
Celebration time in 🇹🇷! @GantepBasketbol won a tough game at home vs @OrlandinaBasket! #BasketballCL
— #BasketballCL (@BasketballCL) October 10, 2017
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The hosts opened up a 15-point in the first half yet did not step on the accelerator and the Italian outfit almost made them pay.
A 3-pointer from Arnoldas Kulboka for Capo D'Orlando with 2:03 remaining cut the Gaziantep advantage to 75-73. Kulboka had 12 points and 13 rebounds on the night. Sean Armand, after his Gaziantep team called a timeout, then hit a step-back jumper to push the lead to four.
After Justin Edwards, who had been terrific on the night, missed a lay-up, Jure Balazic drilled a jumper at the other end for a six-point lead.
Damien Ingles scored to make it a four-point game but Balazic was brilliant on the night and connected from the left corner to take the lead to 82-75, the final score. The Slovenian's dagger gave him a game-high 23 points.
Mark Lyons was terrific for Gaziantep as well, scoring 18 points and dishing out 9 assists.
