The Romanian champs made history by reaching the EuroCup Playoffs for the first time in their second season.
Cluj dismisses Aris, books playoff ticket
Game Report
3 Mins read
U-BT Cluj-Napoca protected its home floor in style and secured a spot in the playoffs with a convincing 90-74 win over the visiting Aris Midea Thessaloniki on Wednesday night. Cluj improved to 10-4 record in Group B, sweeping Aris, which dropped to 6-8 on the season. With four games to go, Cluj mathematically secured a finish among the top six teams in the group.
Cluj took control and lead for good with an 11-0 second-quarter run that opened its first double-digit lead. The visitors kept it close for the rest of the first half, but Cluj made multiple runs that saw it open a 22-point margin late in the third quarter and cruise to victory. Emanuel Cate led all scorers with 18 points, while Bryce Jones scored 10 of his 17 points in that key third quarter. Andrija Stipanovic scored 16 and DJ Seeley netted 13 for Cluj. Silvio De Sousa had 14 points for Aris, while Jonathan Stark finished with 13 in defeat.
Regular Season
Round 14 of 18
Regular Season
group b
U-BT Cluj-NapocaUBT
9074
Aris Midea ThessalonikiARI
group b
Overview
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Cluj started fast, but Aris regrouped
Cluj scored the game's first 9 points behind a triple and 3 assists from DJ Seeley. But Aris answered through Vassilis Toliopoulos and De Sousa, to take 10-11 lead. The teams continued trading blows, with Stipanovic scoring on a three-point play and Roberts Blumbergs answering with a triple. But a long ball from Jarell Eddie and a three-point play from Cate got the hosts to a 23-22 lead after 10 minutes.
Cluj started the second quarter on fire, too, with Cate and Adam Mokoka combining for the first 7 points in an 11-0 run that Seeley capped with a jumper at 34-24. Eleftherios Bochoridis nailed a triple for Aris that helped stop the bleeding, but Seeley hit his own from long range, too, keeping Cluj's lead safe. Patrick Richard scored twice from close range, but Blumbergs knocked down another one from deep for Aris to trim the Cluj lead to 45-38 a halftime.
Game Videos
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/53-qPl-i8LI/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Valencia Basket-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Quarterfinals Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 01:53
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/04/AXxM86Uate29BmruUQujlATDlT87R8Ta-1741119649563.jpg]()
Zavier Simpson: 'It was crazy!'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/be601c94-1b13-4b11-a455-4f1b584d9947.jpg]()
Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Eighthfinals Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/055f73db-6dab-4f97-88cf-404b81c247b7.jpg?crop=1246%3A701%3Anowe%3A52%3A53]()
Stephens's alley-oop dunk! Magic Moment
- 00:08
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/92816f3f-c316-4c82-a8ac-6c6ffa0694bd.jpg?crop=1310%3A737%3Anowe%3A10%3A37]()
Stephens attacks the rim! Magic Moment
- 00:22
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/02/05/UuQpe2wfOHFBVPsew9SQkgv2zZtns68j-1738795224029.jpg]()
Woodbury drives baseline for poster slam! Magic Moment of the Night
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c11bce19-a32f-4b67-9741-4be53fe450d9.jpg]()
Aris Midea Thessaloniki-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 18 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/95d78fb8-76e6-4bb6-8f46-5c908f73d153.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A135%3A159]()
Woodbury’s fastbreak slam! Magic Moment
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f0fcf968-4842-4d13-ab6f-3abbd2ea4a9a.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A99%3A117]()
Woodbury drives baseline for poster slam! Magic Moment
- 00:27
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/29/VwiYerO6eMSF5XTf40pE2gJHLIWYglyN-1738187145494.jpg]()
Figueroa rejects from behind! Magic Moment of the Night
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f1f5f203-8006-48de-b07f-05ba0d0b3236.jpg]()
Aris Midea Thessaloniki-Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:19
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/58505cdc-c17a-4a41-a0ec-e12858a2baaa.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A193%3A85]()
Figueroa rejects from behind! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/GJsnDy3lASk/maxresdefault.jpg]()
7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:25
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/314dfc99-6bba-4873-9e85-4578020f92a8.jpg?crop=1136%3A639%3Anowe%3A184%3A90]()
What an assist by Mokoka! Magic Moment
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2183c7a3-9f3c-4105-acd0-089253215742.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A167%3A25]()
Mokoka swats Stenionis! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c221ebde-ce89-4560-9d2c-5ade2109832b.jpg]()
Valencia Basket-Aris Midea Thessaloniki | Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/57ba786e-4e6d-409a-a07c-c679b9164a81.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Turk Telekom Ankara | Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cd5bc455-e41a-4367-a103-92808b23f8f3.jpg?crop=1288%3A724%3Anowe%3A31%3A30]()
Lovely team baseline move by Cluj! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/r_IM8-CGA2U/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Umana Reyer Venice-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/05ff8965-56a0-42c2-ac7f-457f2bf26508.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A135%3A118]()
Salin creates a fastbreak from the floor! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e4708395-9756-48ca-bffd-0bb83dd71484.jpg]()
Aris Midea Thessaloniki-Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse | Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a88fc0b9-9773-40b6-849e-f8112d5d7b26.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A167%3A39]()
Zimpson dances and scores! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d96808c4-44bb-4a5b-b6d1-8c45a0e74504.jpg]()
Veolia Towers Hamburg-Umana Reyer Venice | Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9688830d-8bed-4e48-bfa4-caefc2212018.jpg]()
Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana-Aris Thessaloniki | Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c8f36cac-ae3e-43e0-9546-de0f8cb80ddc.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A135%3A146]()
Kuath skies for the alley-oop! Magic Moment
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4bae8368-f19f-4a65-a81d-2c8b7c66fa6f.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A83%3A68]()
Barnett rises for the dunk! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c5c4946d-f4ae-4bdc-8dc0-09a52372ac70.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem | Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:19
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f78d4dcc-555c-44b2-824d-a38f25ff44b6.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A10%3A123]()
Casarin’s answer is answered! Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/292b724d-953f-4590-a792-ede9d1eebb00.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A106%3A41]()
Stephens posterizes Smith! Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/55ab7e7e-56b5-4f65-ba51-d968ecfadcab.jpg?crop=4800%3A2700%3Anowe%3A225%3A637]()
An impossible three from Toliopoulos! Magic Moment
- 00:35
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/03/VeqxBSjYkLltGasXC4tfAOifP5cPOKoH-1735939361522.jpg]()
Mokoka takes off for the massive dunk! Magic Moment of the Night
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/Y9kg3RC5GC0/maxresdefault.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/bb684647-7ca2-4db3-bacb-d87a9aaaf699.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A173%3A146]()
Mokoka takes off for the massive dunk! Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2e41e3d1-0b0e-439b-98c4-eb7a4a38913a.jpg?crop=1004%3A565%3Anowe%3A269%3A78]()
Hankins finds Mejeris for the slam! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e6003d64-5e5c-4386-9ff0-a85023270f68.jpg]()
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem-Aris Midea Thessaloniki | Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![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
- 01:51
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/17/kL5IuyqLsptazN4hFGEB7bE1W3N4ZUVk-1734470445456.jpg]()
Kendrick Nunn: 'We needed that energy, that spark'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/vDMG2AlXBXM/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/db9eca36-65ca-47f5-9a18-4c1a95eb9045.jpg?crop=1241%3A698%3Anowe%3A20%3A27]()
Samodurov's big block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2914f72f-6720-489f-abee-7dc50d0f5bd3.jpg?crop=1168%3A657%3Anowe%3A123%3A76]()
LeDay's poster dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/ADe7hkcccCI/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Aris Midea Thessaloniki-7-bet Lietkabelis Panevezys | Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:19
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3a121f47-4ccb-4d40-9042-3d259ed78a28.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A109%3A59]()
Nunn with another ankle-breaker! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:24
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a3ed0c28-8428-4695-980d-dc06e46bee07.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A51%3A73]()
Nunn breaks Ricci's ankles! Motorola Magic Moment
![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
In the first 3 minutes of the third quarter Bryce Jones and Seeley his 2 triples each to open a 55-42 breach on the scoreboard. Roberto Gallinat and Jonathan Stark each hit a three to keep Aris in range, but only briefly because Seeley then sparked a 7-0 run that Stipanovic capped with a put-back layup. Cluj was not done, making a defensive stop after a defensive stop, and using another 7-0 spurt to extend the margin to 22 points, and 76-54 after 30 minutes.
Cate extended the lead to 24 points at the start of the fourth quarter before a 0-7 run by Aris behind Ronnie Harrell and Stark. The visitors kept fighting and Harrell and Stark combined for 7 more points to get the deficit down to 85-74, but it was too little too late for a comeback as Cluj closed it out without drama, booking a spot in the playoffs.
