Bahcesehir hold off late Sporting rally to lead Quarter-Final tie

MUNICH (Germany) - Bahcesehir College will take a three-point lead into next week's second leg after beating Sporting CP 73-70 on the road in their FIBA Europe Cup Quarter-Finals opener.

Sam Dekker top scored with an efficient 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting along with 7 rebounds to lead the way for the Turkish side in Lisbon, but Bahcesehir saw a late 16-point lead cut down to leave the tie in the balance.

Bahcesehir had used a 7-2 run towards the end of the first to move ahead and the five-point gap remained at the half. The visitors were still only five points ahead early in the fourth before putting together what seemed to be a pivotal 13-2 spell to lead 73-57 with 3:23 remaining.

However, Travante Williams scored eight points in quick succession to help spark a run of 13 unanswered points late on. He finished with 25 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals in an all-round effort to help the hosts stay in contention heading into the return leg.

Jamar Smith was also in double figures in the win for Bahcesehir with 12 points and 7 assists with backcourt partner Kartal Ozmizrak adding 6 assists as the duo combined for 13 of the team's 20 assists.

The second leg takes place in Istanbul next Wednesday as part of a four-game slate where the Semi-Finals matchups will be confirmed.

FIBA