MIES (Switzerland) - We asked for thrilling matchups once returning from the break in February, and Tuesday didn't disappoint. On the third Wednesday of this season's BCL Round of 16, action was delivered too.
Two overtimes were needed in Szombathely for the final outcome, Rytas and Reggiana displayed home supremacy. However, everything started with that shocking result coming from Istanbul.
Galatasaray 86-84 Unicaja
The last time Unicaja played in Türkiye, they made sure their superiority was perceived, beating Aliaga Petkimspor away from home by 52 points (108-56). That was their biggest BCL win ever.
Heading to Istanbul following yet again another successful domestic cup break, winning the second Copa del Rey in three years, Ibon Navarro's team wanted to impose their way of playing against Galatasaray, too.
Instead, the longest winning streak in the history of the competition is now over: after 18 consecutive victories in the Basketball Champions League, Unicaja lost. And how they lost...
A shocking outcome doesn't deserve anything less than a thrilling game leading up to the final result, and that happened in this case as well. James Palmer Jr (13 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds), who started the night with 6 points and 5 assists in the first quarter, was Galatasaray's hero on such an historic night.
Stepping up after suffering some early struggles adjusting to the red-and-yellow side, Tyrone Wallace (17 points, 3-of-6 from three) made sure Otis Livingston's injured absence wasn't felt at all.
"I'm just trying to get in a rhythm. My teammates and coach made it possible for me to have more opportunities today and I wasn't very efficient. But it was a game to build on. I came late to the group so I'm trying to find my rhythm with the rest of the group and try to help win games," he commented.
In an era where three-point shots usually win basketball games, an excellent night beyond the arc (14-of-27) wasn't sufficient for the reigning champions. Unicaja - who outscored the opponents in points from the bench (55-21) but led for only 2:28 - hadn't lost in 15 months in the BCL, since their game against Peristeri in December 2023.
Next week, in Malaga, the two teams face each other to continue the path towards the BCL Quarter-Finals. Galatasaray's head coach Yakup Sekizkok already mentioned they want to start Unicaja's losing streak, so grab your popcorn and tune in!
Falco-Vulcano Szombathely 90-104 UCAM Murcia
If Galatasaray ending Unicaja's 15-month streak wasn't enough, what about a double overtime game to follow? Well, the wish was granted in Szombathely.
UCAM Murcia looked safe heading to the end of regulation on the road, but the Hungarian champions recovered in style, forcing the first overtime with Nikola Popovic's dunk.
Following Simon Birgander's block on Zoltan Perl in the final seconds of the second overtime, it looked like the Spanish side was finally clinching the win. Instead, the ball slipped off Jonah Radebaugh's hands, and who was there? Exactly, Nikola Popovic forcing another overtime.
Ultimately, Sito Alonso's team entered a late 7-0 run in the second overtime, going all the way until the end for the final 104-90 survival win over the Hungarians.
Kaiser Gates - who spent exactly the same amount of minutes, 38:43, as Rodions Kurucs on the court - was Murcia's missing piece at the beginning of the season. He proved his efficiency once again in Hungary, with 24 points and 9 rebounds shooting 6-of-11 from deep.
Ludde Hakanson added 21 points and 6 assists to celebrate the win. After getting to FIBA EuroBasket 2025, he could extend his joy alongside the Swedish partner Simon Birgander (12 rebounds).
Perl had 22 in a losing effort.
Rytas Vilnius 98-74 Manisa Basket
After the madness of the early games on Wednesday, with results unclear until the very end in both Istanbul and Szombathely, it was time for a home supremacy all-night in Vilnius.
Giedrius Zibenas' team celebrated a comfortable 98-74 win against Manisa Basket, as Kazys Maksvytis suffered a defeat against his former Lithuanian national team's assistant coach.
The hosts continue to be very effective at home, extending their BCL winning run in the Lithuanian capital at 5-0. Moreover, in these five consecutive victories, they're +97 in points differential.
The bench contribution for the winning side was crucial, as the 54.1 percent of their points (53-of-98) were scored by non-starters. RJ Cole was one of them, and finished with 23 points and 7 assists.
Without the departing Saben Lee, who moved to Olympiacos, Chris Chiozza (15 points and 8 assists) took control in Manisa's backcourt. He dished most of his passes to Jo Lual-Acuil (21 points).
At this point, there are three teams (Unicaja, Rytas, and Galatasaray - in this order) tied at 2-1 in Group J. Manisa, that started their season with a banger in Murcia, are now 0-3 in the R16.
Pallacanestro Reggiana 85-70 BAXI Manresa
Until the ultimate instants of the second quarter in Reggio Emilia against BAXI Manresa, Dimitris Priftis' team never had the lead, with the guests in control.
Then, Jaylen Barford (19 points and 6 rebounds) happened. With a master sequence with a clutch block and a pull-up three-point range from downtown, the American guard inspired his team's reaction.
A 24-13 run in the third quarter was enough to give Pallacanestro Reggiana the right amount of confidence needed to reach back-to-back victories in the BCL Round of 16, winning 85-70.
This is the Italians' biggest victory in the BCL - in fact, this is their first win by more than 10 points.
Jaylen Barford led the team in scoring, tied with Kwan Cheatham who had 19 points over 7-of-13 from the field in just 23:36 minutes on the court.
Kenneth Faried (9 points and 12 rebounds) provided energy as well. That's his first game with 10+ rebounds in the BCL; he is only the sixth player in league history to have had 7+ rebounds in each of his first six appearances.
With his 20-point losing effort in Italy, Derrick Alston has now scored more than 15 points in seven of his nine BCL games. It's the first time this season Manresa lost despite the team's #21 scoring more than 15 points. Cameron Hunt also added 17 points in the loss.
At this point, La Laguna Tenerife stay on top of Group K at 3-0 as just one of the two unbeaten teams in the R16 alongside AEK; Reggiana (2-1) and Manresa (1-2) follow, with Aliaga Petkimspor last at 0-3.