09 October, 2018
05 May, 2019
10 Andrea De Nicolao (REYER)
30/01/2019
Game Report
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Venezia pull through in OT as further Play-Off spots confirmed - Gameday 13, Wednesday Round Up

MIES (Switzerland) - It was an eventful night for the Wednesday edition of Gameday 13, no game more thrilling than Umana Reyer Venezia's overtime victory over Nanterre that sent not only themselves, but PAOK through to the Round of 16.

Two more teams, in Promitheas Patras- despite being on the wrong side of the result - and Besiktas Sompo Japan - who played on Tuesday - also ensured their spots in the Play-Offs as a result of the games.

Here's a round up of all the action:

Anwil v Banvit 

 
Banvit found a way to register a 95-84 come-from-behind overtime victory against Anwil, clinching the second seed in Group A.

With their backs against the wall, Banvit trailed by double digits in the fourth, before a fight back punctuated by DJ Shelton knocking down a wide open triple from the corner to tie the game at 80 with 29 seconds remaining to force overtime, 

In OT, it was all Banvit, as they outscored their counterparts 15-4, handing Anwil their fifth consecutive Basketball Champions League loss.

Shelton exploded for a season-high 27 points and 9 rebounds to lead Banvit, Gary Neal scored 19, Alex Perez had 18 and 6 assists, whilst McKenzie Moore went for 13 points, 11 assists and 7 rebounds.

Jaroslaw Zyskowski had 22 points to lead Anwil, Michal Michalak had 18, with Nikola Markovic and Aaron Broussard adding 11 each.

Notable Number: 13 - the number of three pointers Banvit scored, the first time this season they have made more than 10.

Promitheas Patras v Neptunas Klaipeda

 
Neptunas Klaipeda won their third consecutive game in the Basketball Champions League with a 82-69 win on the road against Promitheas Patras, thrusting themselves into the Play-Offs conversation in Group D.

The visitors led by as many as 19 in the first half, sparked by Kyle Weaver who didn't miss a field goal attempt on the way to 10 of his 15 points in the opening period where Neptunas gained a significant advantage.

Deividas Gailius went 7-of-8 for 19 points in 22 minutes for Neptunas, Jerai Grant had 13 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists, whilst  Osvaldas Olisevicius joined them in double figures with 10.

Promitheas refused to fold, staying in striking distance for the majority of the contest but were never able to quite get over the hump. However, due to other results, their spot in the Play-Offs was officially confirmed on the night.

Rion Brown's 15-point, 15-rebound double-double - his first of the season - led the home side, with Langston Hall and Leonidas Kaselakis adding 13 each.

Notable Number: 26 - the number of points Neptunas registered in the opening quarter to take an early 11 point lead to set the tone.

Fribourg Olympic v PAOK

 
PAOK had little trouble of dispatching of Fribourg Olympic in the end, using an 84-64 victory paired with Umana Reyer Venezia's win to secure their spot in the Play-Offs.

Despite Fribourg already having been confirmed out, they showed some fight, pulling to within three in the third, however, the visitors used a 16-4 run to take control and never looked back, cruising in the fourth quarter.

Phil Goss' 16 points led PAOK, Linos Chrysikopoulos had 12, and Thodoris Zaras joined them in double figures with 11.

For Fribourg, Natan Jurkovitz and Dusan Mladjan led with 14 apiece.

Notable Number: 22 - the number of points PAOK scored off of 17 Fribourg turnovers.

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem v Brose Bamberg

 
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem put on an offensive clinic on their way to a 103-89 victory over Brose Bamberg.

Jerusalem poured in 34 points in the second quarter, using a 17-4 run over the final 3:34 of the half to take a commanding lead, as they led by as many as 26 in the second half. 

Amar'e Stoudemire went 6-of-7 for his 19 points in 16 minutes, Tamir Blatt knocked down five triples on his way to 17 points along with 8 assists, with Da'Sean Butler and TaShawn Thomas adding 15 and 13, respectively. 

Augustine Rubit led Bamberg with 16 points, with Patrick Heckmann and Elias Harris adding 15 apiece.

If AEK win next week, Hapoel will secure the second seed in the Play-Offs draw on February 8.

Notable Number: 59.3 - the blistering percentage Jerusalem shot from the field, including 13-of-26 (50%) from three point range.

medi Bayreuth v Petrol Olimpija

 
medi Bayreuth used a strong fourth quarter to defeat Petrol Olimpija 82-71, in a game that had little ramifications with both teams already having been eliminated from Play-Offs contention.

A strong start to the final period saw Bayreuth open up a double digit lead, holding off Olimpija the rest of the way.

Adonis Thomas had 22 points to lead the scoring for the victors, De'Mon Brooks had 20 points and 13 rebounds, Kassius Robertson scored 15 and Bastian Doreth was also in double digits with 12 for the hosts.

For Olimpija,  Roko Badzim had 16 points and 8 assists, Aleksandar Lazic had 16 of his own, with Marvin Jones registering 15.

Notable Number: 23 - the number of offensive rebounds Olimpija finished with, despite the loss.

Sidigas Avellino v Le Mans

 
Le Mans finished with an 81-68 win over Sidigas Avellino, using a dominant third quarter to pull away, now needing a win next week to ensure their spot in the Play-Offs.

Le Mans went 27-10 in the third period, overturning a three point halftime deficit to take a double digit lead into the final period.

Michael Thompson's 19 points and 7 assists led five players into double digits for Le Mans, with Wilfried Yeguete and Valentin Bigote having 12 each.

Ojars Silins finished with 15 to lead Avellino, Caleb Green had 14 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds, with Keifer Sykes adding 11 to join them in double figures. However, Avellino could be out if they find themselves in a three-way tie with Le Mans and Nizhny.

Notable Number: 4 - the number of turnovers Le Mans finished with, as they did a masterful job of looking after the ball.

Iberostar Tenerife v Opava

 
Iberostar Tenerife had no problem defeating Opava, with a 97-38 record-breaking rout, as Opava were confirmed out of the Play-Offs spots.

The 59 point victory represented Tenerife's highest winning margin in the competition, as they held Opava to single digits in two out of the four quarters.

The 2017 champions received a 20-point, 14-rebound double-double from Pierre-Antoine Gillet, 16 points and 14 rebounds from Sebastian Saiz; with 8 of his rebounds coming on the offensive end. Mamadou Niang added 13 points and 8 rebounds.

Opava were led by 9 points from Filip Zbranek and 8 from Jakub Sirina.

Notable Number: 21.5 - the field goal percentage Opava were held to, as they went just 14-of-65 from the field.

Nanterre 92 v Umana Reyer Venezia

 
Umana Reyer Venezia came through when it mattered for an 89-80 overtime victory against Nanterre 92, sealing not only their own place, but PAOK's in the Round of 16.

A costly miss at the free throw line allowed Andrea De Nicolao to get the putback at the buzzer to force overtime, where they were held scoreless for the last 3:20 as Venezia used a huge three from Mike Bramos with 1:12 left to give them a five point cushion.

Mitchell Watt led the scoring for Venezia with 18 points along with 8 rebounds, whilst Julyan Stone flirted with a triple double on his way to 15 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. MarQuez Haynes added 12 points and 6 assists, with De Nicolao finishing with 11 points, including the overtime-forcing shot.

Jeremy Senglin had a game-high 25 for Nanterre, and Adas Juskevicius had 12, but it would not be enough for the French side,  who will now face Holon in a winner-takes-all game in Israel next week.

Notable Number: 50 - the percentage Venezia shot from beyond the arc, as they finished 13-of-26.