FIBA Europe Cup - Tuesday round-up
MUNICH (FIBA Europe Cup) - Telekom Bonn Basket's unbeaten start in Group C came to an end - but just barely - as they let slip a 25-point lead on the road against Sodertalje Kings.
MUNICH (FIBA Europe Cup) - Sodertalje Kings came from 25 points down to deny Telekom Bonn Baskets a third win in a row in the FIBA Europe Cup as they edged out the Germans 90-89 in Group C.
Bonn, looking to go 3-0 and top the group, dominated the opening 20 minutes, and at one stage were leading 54-29.
They were still up 78-67 with a little over six minutes left, but Toni Bizaca's three-pointer sparked a 16-3 Kings run as the game changed complexion.
Congratulations @KingsSodertalje @SodertaljeBBK for beating @TelekomBaskets !!!! Crazy game! Down -25 and win with 1 👊🏼💪💪💪💪
— Dino Pita (@Dinopita) November 15, 2016
A tense battle followed, but after Kenneth Horton missed a three-pointer for Bonn with 32 ticks left, the Kings ran down the clock before Nicholas Spires made it 90-87 with only four seconds to play.
Josh Mayo missed a three for Bonn and though Yorman Bartolo hit a pair of free throws at the death, time ran out.
The result jumbles the picture in the three-team Group C, as Bonn drop to 2-1, while the Kings are at 2-2.
"We came out really strong in the second half and made some shots," Spires said. "We made some mistakes in the beginning, but we came back strong. We made some changes at half-time, tried to focus on the things in our game plan and work our way through it.
"It is a big victory and a chance to play in the second round."
His coach Vedran Bosnic added: "We showed character. Telekom is a fantastic team. We talked about small changes at half-time, then we took small steps. Ten points down in the third quarter and we continued...
"This is amazing for the players, they are singing in the locker room now. I am very happy for how we came back. We stood up. Being down by 25 is very tough, no matter which team it is."
Never give up!!!! 💪🏀💚🇸🇪 https://t.co/OEc07l9BaX
— Vedran Bosnic (@VedranBosnic) November 15, 2016
Bonn coach Predrag Krunic was left to ponder how his team had let the game get away.
"Congratulations to Sodertalje and their coach," he said. "It was two different halves. The first was ours and the second was theirs. We made shots in the first half but in the second we did not play good defence and we lost focus, maybe because we have had tough games lately."
FULL RESULTS
Group A
SL Benfica 77-69 Elan Chalon
Group B
Donar Groningen 98-70 Limburg United
Group C
Sodertalje Kings 90-89 Telekom Bonn Baskets
Group E
Tartu 68-89 Pau-Lacq-Orthez
FIBA