BANDIRMA (Basketball Champions League) - Banvit picked up their first win of the 2017-18 Basketball Champions League season, needing overtime to secure an 87-83 victory over Petrol Olimpija on Wednesday.

Tony Taylor was spectacular, as he scored 9 of his game-high 24 points in the extra period, holding off a fired up Olimpija side that battled back from 18 down in regulation to force overtime.

📊Takımımız @BasketballCL C Grubu'nda ilk galibiyetini alırken, Tony Taylor 24 sayı-2 ribaund-4 asistle maçın en skorer ismi oldu 👏 #refusetolose 💪 #Banvit 🏆 pic.twitter.com/agelh0dqW8

— Banvit Basketbol (@BanvitBK) October 18, 2017

With Banvit appearing to be comfortable in control, Olimpija came alive in the final period. Roko Badzin knocked down a three pointer to provide a spark and pull the visitors to within four with 7:19 left and from there it was a game.

A Domen Lorbek three with 14 seconds left tied the game, before a beautiful wrap around pass from Gregor Hrovat to a cutting Drazen Bubnic for backdoor layup appeared to complete the Olimpija comeback as they led by two, 75-73, with two seconds remaining.

However, an ill-advised foul sent Damian Kulig to the line with 0.7 seconds left where he knocked down both free throws to force overtime, where Taylor took over.

"It was very tough, a tough beginning of the season with a really difficult calendar," a relieved Banvit Head Coach Sasa Filipovski said after the game.

"Losses hurt us. Playing 3 overtimes with Venezia, and also tough loss in our home championship, our team lost their confidence.

"...As the game was coming to the end, experience and emotions cut our concentration and execution so it was very difficult to face this fear and to break the ice.

"...I am very happy for the first half, and happy for this breaking of the ice. It was difficult to stand this situation and I believe that now players will relax more and play our system and execute, and play our basketball like we can play."

Angelo Caloiaro backed up Taylor with 20 points and 9 rebounds, captain Gasper Vidmar had 13, whilst Kulig had 10, including the OT-forcing free throws.

"We knew it was going to be a hard game, Olimpija are a great team," Vidmar said.

"They were fighting from the first to the last minute. It's good for us, it's our first victory of the season so I hope it will continue like this.

"We still have a lot of work to do; we had many ups and downs, 10 minutes playing good and 10 minutes playing bad. the next games to I hope we are going to fix that and continue winning."

Olimpija's Jordan Morgan went 10 of 17 for his 22 points, including a spectacular dunk over Vidmar, adding 7 rebounds and 4 assists, whilst four other players joined him in double digits with 10 points each.

🚀 Air Jordan Morgan shows no mercy for the Slovenian giant!#BasketballCL, @JustJMo, @petrol_olimpija pic.twitter.com/HxFo3iD88d

— #BasketballCL (@BasketballCL) October 18, 2017