The shooting guard set a career-high in scoring with 24 points
Adam Mokoka powers Cluj past Aris
Game Report
3 Mins read
Adam Mokoka set a career-high with 24 points and Zavier Simpson and De'Shawn Stephens both posted double-doubles as U-BT Cluj-Napoca bested Aris Midea Thessaloniki 87-79 on Thursday night at BT-Arena for the team’s third straight win at home. Cluj improved to 5-4 on the season while knocking Aris down to 2-7.
Simpson and Zach Hankins finished with 14 points each for the winners with Simpson dishing 10 assists and Hankins collected 9 rebounds. Stephens posted 11 points and 11 boards and Karel Guzman contributed 8 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals for the winners. Landers Nolley led Aris with 22 points, Vassilis Toliopoulos scored 19 and Sharife Cooper ended his EuroCup debut with 15.
Game Videos
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/Bt3SoMaLDc4/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Valencia Basket-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/da540dff-7fcd-4b28-99ae-3edac2f31ed5.jpg?crop=1209%3A679%3Anowe%3A85%3A97]()
Simpson's circus shot! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/ADe7hkcccCI/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Aris Midea Thessaloniki-7-bet Lietkabelis Panevezys | Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/Jji9axLj4fs/maxresdefault.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse | Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:28
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ce750352-36a6-4eaf-a17d-105f866432fe.jpg?crop=1191%3A670%3Anowe%3A103%3A62]()
Seeley's three to take the lead for good! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/zzJ9Vgml_zw/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Turk Telekom Ankara-Aris Midea Thessaloniki | Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/40a8fb17-a93a-470d-bbf2-ba8aeb7bcd48.jpg?crop=1271%3A715%3Anowe%3A0%3A68]()
An open lane for Guzman's dunk! Magic Moment
- 00:30
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/049e436b-d82f-40d6-b6ab-f0f547d742e7.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A83%3A172]()
Big hustle, big dunk! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/69d88395-6f1a-4bfe-8706-6715aedcad0b.jpg]()
Aris Midea Thessaloniki-Umana Reyre Venice | Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:27
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/03/BTGH04Yt0du0CkpC3jILvLWipkRMQLOn-1733264308516.jpg]()
Guzman with the massive dunk on the break! Magic Moment of the Night
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9699c983-d978-48e4-ab59-59bd3a23002f.jpg]()
Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/6f2ab088-9fb2-49bf-8afa-cd5359c80bd6.jpg?crop=737%3A414%3Anowe%3A237%3A54]()
Hankins throws it down! Magic Moment
- 00:19
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/28/fqsidqDwWGesOmT3nVCvT8CS55xax7vp-1732833407181.jpg]()
Simpson-Hankins connection! Magic Moment of the Night
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/1IQTDgXgJiw/maxresdefault.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Aris Midea Thessaloniki | Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/09297ac2-b6ab-46cf-9f1c-0c365e106183.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A135%3A146]()
Karel Guzman throws it down! Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/de19609b-49e0-4461-9bfb-daf83823f15c.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A138%3A53]()
Banks bangs one home! Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/eac35cf2-259e-4e41-9e87-d3f96e48eaa5.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A97%3A111]()
Simpson finds Stephens! Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cfd994c7-06d3-4c66-a369-b29bbdb48cda.jpg?crop=838%3A471%3Anowe%3A372%3A52]()
Banks' double block! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/PjpIeli7J0k/maxresdefault.jpg]()
FC Barcelona-Paris Basketball | RS Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:56
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/15/PVm49BOVnU72TwN6NdV9bb9dVHZGdaky-1731708203592.jpg]()
TJ Shorts: 'It was my whole team stepping up'
- 00:18
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/15/RmIksWow7ZaF64KxMm5GqHl44PtSo0yJ-1731708144267.png]()
Satoransky flies to the rim! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:17
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f6bbe2ec-182c-441e-be96-e84f1351580b.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A109%3A68]()
Satoransky throws it down! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/3eO7M5jQ2PM/maxresdefault.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj-Napoca-7-bet Lietkabelis Panevezys | Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cd448098-5569-427c-8424-49c9c3cd0d6c.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A62%3A47]()
Hankins seals the win! Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/036b9fba-0741-4789-8c5e-a987b5bc4aed.jpg?crop=816%3A459%3Anowe%3A408%3A42]()
Mokoka's big block! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e6ae65a8-6306-4a4c-9ee6-bc4a0da307ea.jpg]()
Veolia Towers Hamburg-Aris Midea Thessaloniki | Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/rpdB_bwMSPs/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Aris Midea Thessaloniki-Valencia Basket | Round 7 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/UUdbw5b2mWs/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Turk Telekom Ankara-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 7 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/62b50e7b-f5f2-48e8-8a33-9c20ad86dc4d.jpg?crop=1180%3A664%3Anowe%3A0%3A89]()
Laszewski’s big dunk! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/db77921a-307c-41e8-b92f-20ebb6555f4a.jpg]()
Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse-Aris Midea Thessaloniki | Round 6 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/05-fy0KZRYY/maxresdefault.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Umana Reyer Venice | Round 6 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cfd994c7-06d3-4c66-a369-b29bbdb48cda.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A33%3A43]()
Banks rejects Kokila! Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/be225c53-61ae-4d64-8587-e394c30de726.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A18%3A161]()
Monster block by Mokoka! Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/684607d5-263f-45a7-8cc0-5b1a23babb9f.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A112%3A71]()
What a monster dunk by Guzman! Magic Moment
- 00:24
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/23/QaQmrH7Avj00NslIcFOrJUPvLscrT3sx-1729715788713.png]()
Banks with a put-back slam! Magic Moment of the Night
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/35f4178a-9a77-4da8-894a-b4ffe8d984fc.jpg]()
Aris Midea Thessaloniki-Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana | Round 5 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/MSuVFOJWT2A/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem-U-BT-Cluj-Napoca | Round 5 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/7bd4000d-edda-494e-8396-e21481697ea2.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A106%3A78]()
Bochoridis to Roberts for a powerful slam! Magic Moment
- 00:18
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cfd994c7-06d3-4c66-a369-b29bbdb48cda.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A161%3A54]()
Banks with a put-back slam! Magic Moment
- 00:20
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/16/oFgWI02eEWSv4wiKjeOC1unlbuOAEEtf-1729110777567.jpg]()
Nolley goes coast-to-coast! Magic Moment of the Night
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/PKBVdALTm9k/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Aris Midea Thessaloniki-Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem | Round 4 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f52d4c3c-ff2d-4b78-97d5-66a43f12d3f4.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A83%3A37]()
Nolley goes coast-to-coast! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/nVv73iwP8Ws/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Veolia Towers Hamburg-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 4 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 03:48
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/09/cQhjRbA9q1Cmm9p0gscm01y8OatbxvGN-1728499844772.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Valencia Basket | Round 3 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:22
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/374362fb-7f20-4f6a-b455-a40ffe8b5cf3.png?crop=750%3A422%3Anowe%3A0%3A90]()
Guzman slams home a powerful dunk! Magic Moment
- 03:38
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/08/d5DVhRAtEydTSR4lQfpFVLL8fOWqZwLY-1728414002180.jpg]()
7-bet Lietkabelis Panevezys-Aris Midea Thessaloniki | Round 3 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:18
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/de0d1b30-2e49-4a03-aab3-406b15958d61.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A77%3A116]()
Banks's big dunk! Magic Moment
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9f9c0982-6463-4e58-a2dc-50a42d6ca21e.png?crop=750%3A422%3Anowe%3A0%3A76]()
Alkins throws it down! Magic Moment
- 03:40
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/02/8Ti2tM5pWK6VShQkzCFb3IWcV9cWwoTE-1727900909529.jpg]()
Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 2 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 03:55
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/02/sl4zeVcxlU2vh9cUdNDv54VhGxV5AeBd-1727898382695.jpg]()
Aris Midea Thessaloniki-Turk Telekom Ankara | Round 2 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
Hankins got Cluj going with a fast-break dunk and Guzman scored off a steal for a 4-0 lead. Nate Laszewski stepped up with a jump hook that Simpson bettered with a triple. Hankins dunked again and Guzman boosted the hosts' lead to 11-4. Laszewski improved on Stephens's layup with a wild three-pointer before Mokoka gave Cluj a 15-9 lead. Nolley rescued Aris with back-to-back baskets, bringing his team within 17-13. Mokoka followed a layup-plus-foul with a bomb from downtown to make it a double-digit game, 23-13. Sasu Salin hit a triple before Toliopoulos and Cooper drew the visitors within 26-19 after 10 minutes.
Toliopoulos struck from beyond the arc and Nolley buried consecutive jumpers as Aris completed its comeback to lead 26-28 early in the second quarter. Stephens dunked to even things and Guzman pushed the hosts ahead with free throws. Gediminas Orelik scored his first points for Cluj with a triple, though Aris remained close behind Toliopoulos. Guzman fed Hankins for an alley-oop slam and Mokoka added a three-pointer that gave the hosts a 42-38 lead at the half.
Toliopoulos and Laszewski kept Aris on Cluj's heels, but the hosts remained in front thanks to Simpson and D.J. Seeley. The lead reached 9 before James Banks and Nolley went to work for Aris. Toliopoulos made it 51-48 from the line. The momentum continued to swing back and forth with Simpson and Mokoka rising to the challenge and Toliopoulos and Cooper answering back. A buzzer-beating put-back by Stephens gave Cluj a 63-57 edge after three quarters.
Guzman rocked the rim and Mokoka connected from deep to give the hosts a double-digit advantage. Nearly 3 minutes passed before Emmanouil Chatzidakis scored Aris’s first points of the fourth quarter. Joshua Roberts shined for the visitors with a block and a put-back slam to get Aris within 69-63. D Moi Hodge gave Aris hope with a three-pointer only to see Hankins dunk twice as Cluj extended its advantage to 78-68 with 3 minutes remaining to all but put the game on ice.
