The visitors turned in one of their best defensive performances to claim a road win in Greece.
Cluj gave Aris a taste of its own medicine
Article
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 5 of 18
Regular Season
group b
Aris Midea ThessalonikiARI
5961
U-BT Cluj-NapocaUBT
group b
Overview
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U-BT Cluj-Napoca took to the historic Palais De Sports knowing that it would take on the second-best defense in the BKT EuroCup with an average of 73.8 points conceded in the first four rounds. Aris Midea Thessaloniki got off to a great start and led 15-3 just 4 minutes into the first quarter. No team in the competition had forced more opposition turnovers than Aris (18.3 per game) heading into Wednesday's duel and Cluj struggled to find answers to the Greek side’s aggressive defense in the opening stages.
"The first 5 minutes was the most difficult part of this game," Cluj head coach Mihai Silvasan said after the duel. "We weren’t focused and we turned the ball over a bit too much. We allowed them to get confidence and take a 10-point lead."
Cluj did bounce back and scored 16 points in the last 6 minutes of the first half, but Aris took a 22-19 lead into the second quarter. This is when the visitors tightened their defense and never looked back. Prior to this game, Aris had gone on a two-game winning run which was based on a defense that allowed just 63 and 66 points. The hosts managed to hold Cluj to 61 points, but got a taste of their own medicine on the other end. Aris scored 11, 13, and 13 points, respectively, in the last three quarters, with Cluj keeping Roberto Gallinat, who netted 10 points in the first half, to 5 points after the break.
"I believe that our defensive formula in the second half, the players who played the best defense, won the game for us," Silvasan said in the post-game press conference. "It was an extremely big defensive effort and that’s the reason why we won this game."
Cluj received important help from its second unit, getting 30 of its 61 points from the bench. Mareks Mejeris played a key role in helping the visitors complete the comeback. The Cluj forward scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half, going on a perfect 5-for-5 from inside the arc and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line. Most importantly he showed hustle on both ends and finished the game with 6 rebounds, one of which came in the last seconds of the game to allow his team to clinch the road victory.
"Obviously, defense [was the key to the win]," Mejeris noted after the game. "It was a low-scoring game, but we knew it was going to be this way so we stayed locked in on the defensive end and tried to score on offense and it worked."
Despite struggling on offense throughout the game, Cluj matched Aris's energy on defense and managed to find the formula that allowed the team to secure its fourth victory of the season. Currently boasting a solid 4-1 record, the Romanian side will look to build on its narrow win at Palais De Sport by beating ratiopharm Ulm at home next week and extending its winning streak to three games.
Game Videos
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/53-qPl-i8LI/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Valencia Basket-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Quarterfinals Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
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Zavier Simpson: 'It was crazy!'
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Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Eighthfinals Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
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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
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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/9688830d-8bed-4e48-bfa4-caefc2212018.jpg]()
Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana-Aris Thessaloniki | Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![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
- 00:11
![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
![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/3eO7M5jQ2PM/maxresdefault.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj-Napoca-7-bet Lietkabelis Panevezys | Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
