The Romanian champs trailed for the lion’s share of an enthralling contest before turning the tide in the home straight
Late surge gives Cluj hard-fought 86-78 home win over Reyer
Game Report
3 Mins read
U-BT Cluj-Napoca celebrated its first home win of the season in the BKT EuroCup and improved to 3-3 in Group B after digging deep to grind out an 86-78 victory over visiting Umana Reyer Venice.
Adam Mokoka paced the hosts with 16 points, Karel Guzman added 15 while Zach Hankins chipped in with 14 and 7 boards. At the other end, Juan Fernandez netted 11 points while Rodney McGruder and Davide Moretti scored 10 apiece for Reyer, which dropped to 2-4.
Game Videos
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/ayvAmct15g8/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Umana Reyer Venice-Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana | Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:07
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/eaa2cdaa-0205-4810-8291-7a8f813bb67a.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A118%3A94]()
Wheatle's chase-down block! 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
- 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/iAKfgw3ba4w/maxresdefault.jpg]()
7-bet Lietkabelis-Umana Reyer Venice | Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/1IQTDgXgJiw/maxresdefault.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Aris Midea Thessaloniki | Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9e20c9ca-a53a-40e5-8a3f-ee64af9b1b39.jpg?crop=1220%3A686%3Anowe%3A0%3A156]()
Kabengele dunks off a Simms alley-oop pass! Magic Moment
- 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
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/eac35cf2-259e-4e41-9e87-d3f96e48eaa5.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A97%3A111]()
Simpson finds Stephens! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/zAQbOas_bH8/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Umana Reyer Venice-Turk Telekom Ankara | Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9e20c9ca-a53a-40e5-8a3f-ee64af9b1b39.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A77%3A153]()
A vicious alley-oop from Kabengele! 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://img.youtube.com/vi/JWHvUyIhcWE/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Hapoel Yahav Bank Jerusalem-Umana Reyer Venice | 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
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f249f449-fa7b-4439-b387-1fbcb9943c35.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A115%3A27]()
Parks stops Zoosman! Magic Moment
- 01:09
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/01/SwwTq52wSuS6K1uYSaQ2m4ysjib23Q0j-1730494302912.jpg]()
Arnas Butkevicius: 'When you work hard, luck is on your side'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/LqahQ4LBt5g/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-AS Monaco | RS Round 7 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c9bf1a55-9e58-4ca6-bb6f-0baed2167bc2.jpg?crop=1220%3A686%3Anowe%3A90%3A71]()
Smailagic rocks the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:25
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3a509e06-553e-41fb-904b-423e9b802b24.jpg?crop=1282%3A721%3Anowe%3A28%3A51]()
Ulanovas beats the buzzer! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1ee7e731-2ab5-448a-82fd-2a739069889e.jpg?crop=688%3A386%3Anowe%3A10%3A40]()
Birutis dunks in traffic! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/05-fy0KZRYY/maxresdefault.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Umana Reyer Venice | Round 6 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/5c6915f4-75e4-4399-9d1a-10fb22a82687.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A135%3A146]()
Fine dunk by Kabengele! 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
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/40572331-6726-4801-9074-e5ad02f0cd6e.jpg?crop=1206%3A678%3Anowe%3A88%3A83]()
Great dunk by Kabengele! 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
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/MSuVFOJWT2A/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem-U-BT-Cluj-Napoca | Round 5 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/72f2b185-13f0-4b1d-8fee-686f5c95f331.jpg]()
Umana Reyer Venice-Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 5 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/_F4D3JtmDtE/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Valencia Basket-Umana Reyer Venice | Round 4 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![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
- 03:52
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/08/ip6NP4IcETBK5bpLXneEI7dnwBc5wyOv-1728420036757.jpg]()
Umana Reyer Venice-Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse | Round 3 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:23
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/6ba5eccf-1ec0-465c-aeda-df5dac6e8a6b.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A123%3A108]()
Kabengele has no mercy! Magic Moment
- 00:18
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/5c9a38ff-dabc-433c-a60d-98d4fc45bdbb.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A103%3A42]()
Kabengele with the circus shot! 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
- 03:40
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/01/Jidg3P3GtHtmMljDNPnzODqJZQMoDzPg-1727821951595.jpg]()
Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana-Umana Reyer Venice | Round 2 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2d9a8676-ccf7-487b-914f-5c103b14d12f.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A53%3A38]()
Magic Moment: Kabengele finishes tough alley-oop!
- 03:40
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/09/25/E8qY6ugj0GcIx0dKD52gZfOeW3n2vYS4-1727298025577.jpg]()
Umana Reyer Venice-Aris Midea Thessaloniki | Round 1 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 03:16
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/09/25/fvuSV7VRTndxYH7kKnN5u7OaPKvlqi7F-1727289697606.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj Napoca-Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana | Round 1 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/90929047-a06a-4908-b66f-3992ebdd5a6c.png?crop=750%3A422%3Anowe%3A0%3A102]()
Magic Moment: Simms puts it back!
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/449befd0-a2a1-47e9-a7df-86c170244f6a.png?crop=750%3A422%3Anowe%3A0%3A79]()
Magic Moment: Parks's alley-oop dunk!
Both teams played in fits and starts early on, as Reyer raced to a 2-6 lead before Cluj responded with a 10-0 run. The visitors then hit back with a 0-8 streak to turn the tables and carve out a 20-24 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Reyer was particularly lethal from downtown in the first half, making 10 of 17 shots from deep in the opening two quarters to earn a 39-46 halftime advantage, after Fernandez sank a buzzer-beater from way beyond the arc.
Cluj looked down and out for the count after Reyer extended its lead to 45-61 in the third quarter and things got even worse for the hosts as their head coach Mihai Silvasan ejected by the officials for loud protests over a refereeing decision. That, however, seemed to galvanize Cluj as the home team slashed the deficit to 56-67 ahead of the final 10 minutes and then beefed up its defense in the fourth quarter.
It paid instant dividends as Reyer’s long-range artillery dried up while the turnovers piled up, allowing Cluj to draw level 72-72 down the stretch. With the fervent home crowd roaring them on, the home players forced the final twist as Mokoka came up with some big plays before Guzman sank a decisive 3-pointer to give Cluj an unassailable 84-78 lead in the final minute.
Ultimately, Reyer was held to a mere 1-of-11 shooting from downtown in the second half and forced to commit 19 turnovers by an aggressive Cluj defense, while managing a mere 14 assists. The visitors also made only 13 of 27 shots from two-point territory, with Cluj winning the battle of the boards 37-33.
