Not many teams have performed better than U-BT Cluj-Napoca and ratiopharm Ulm in the first five weeks of the new BKT EuroCup campaign, as they enter their Group B Round 6 head-to-head clash both sporting a 4-1 record in a share of second place.

Cluj, Ulm clash in unlikely strength-on-strength derby

Before the 2023-24 season tipped off, it would have been hard for one to argue that Round 6 derby in Group B would be a clash between U-BT Cluj-Napoca and ratiopharm Ulm. This notion would have been based on their performances last season, which was Cluj's first in the competition, as well as a lack of traditional rivalry between the clubs.

However, not many teams have performed better than these two in the first five weeks of the new campaign, as they enter their head-to-head clash both sporting a 4-1 record in a [share of second place](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/standings/).

### Short rotation working for Cluj

While it might not be much of a surprise to see head coach Anton Gavel's Ulm, last year's EuroCup quarterfinalists and the reigning German champion, near the top of Group B standings, for Cluj, it's a night-and-day difference from last season.

Cluj did not pick up its fourth win of the season until early March and Round 15 last season, which led to the team being one of only four teams in the competition missing the playoffs. This season, its only loss in five games so far has been a 4-point defeat against a fellow 4-1 side, JL Mincidelice Bourg en Bresse.

U-BT Cluj-Napoca's best plays in the first five rounds of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season.

U-BT Cluj-Napoca's top plays of the 2023-24 season

So far, head Coach Mihail Silvasan has been using a nine-man rotation that has allowed third fewest points (72.6 ppg.), and held teams to just 15.6 assists per game, second fewest through five rounds.

Meanwhile, veterans [D.J. Seeley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/dennis-seeley/004862/) (13.6 ppg.) and [Andrija Stipanovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/andrija-stipanovic/005113/) (12.8 ppg., 4.8 rpg.) have paced a balanced offense that has seven players average 7.0 points or more.  Alongside Seeley, fellow newcomers [Jerrell Eddie](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jarell-eddie/010569/) (9.8 ppg., 4.2 rpg.) and [Bryce Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/bryce-jones-jr/012621/) (8.4 ppg., 4.4 rpg., 4.2 apg.) have both given a significant contribution, making a big difference compared to last season.

### Can Jallow get hot again?

Cluj hopes that will all help to have a different outcome against Ulm compared to a season ago, when it got swept in their two regular-season clashes.

At BT-Arena, the same venue where this game will take place, in the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, Ulm rallied from a second-half double-digit deficit to an [81-84 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/u-bt-cluj-napoca-ratiopharm-ulm/U2022/82/#boxscore) behind [Robin Christen](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/robin-christen/011188/) and [Karim Jallow](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/karim-jallow/005422/) who combined for 47 points. Christen had 26 points and was 10-for-10 from the field in that game, and Jallow scored 21 points with 4 rebounds and a career-high 4 steals, all while hitting a game-deciding basket.

And while Christen is yet to play this season, Jallow arrives red-hot into his clash, having posted 23 points with 4 rebounds in last week's [108-103 overtime win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/ratiopharm-ulm-slask-wroclaw/U2023/48/) over Slask Wroclaw, and has followed it up with a 17-point effort over the weekend in the German League action.

Last year at BT-Arena, Karim Jallow scored 21 points with 4 rebounds and a career-high 4 steals, all while hitting a game-deciding basket.

Jallow shined last year at BT-Arena

Ulm, unlike Cluj, has made the playoffs last season and reached the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year, before going to win its first domestic league crown.

### Contributors aplenty

There was a good amount of uncertainty around Ulm before this season because of summer departure of several key protagonists. But Coach Gavel has had no trouble getting his offense to click, as it is averaging fourth-best 92.0 points and second-most 22.4 assists going into Round 6.

Ulm has five players scoring in double figures, led by [Dakota Mathis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/dakota-mathias/012629/) (18.0 ppg.). [Trevion Williams](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/trevion-lamon-williams-/012604/) (13.8 ppg.) is EuroCup's rebounding leader (11.5 rpg.) and while [Georginho De Paula](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/georginho-de-paula-/012703/) (12.4 ppg., 5.2 apg.) is one of three Ulm players averaging at least more than 4.0 assists, along with [Juan Nunez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/juan-nunez/010106/) (4.3 apg.) and [Thomas Klepeisz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/thomas-klepeisz/010582/) (4.0 apg.).

Behind such offense, Ulm will be aiming at its fourth consecutive win, but Cluj is determined to use its defense, and home-crowd support, to keep its perfect 3-0 home record intact. A strength-vs-strength derby, a game you don't want to miss on Wednesday night.

Game News

Game Videos

Cluj and Ulm, two teams in a share of second place in Group B, are squaring off on Wednesday night in BT-Arena.

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v ratiopharm Ulm (2023-11-08T17:00:00.000Z)

Umana Reyer Venezia guard Rayjon Tucker played some of his best basketball down the stretch to lift his team to a come-from-behind victory over Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana. 

Rayjon Tucker's bag of tricks was on display late against Cedevita

Playing in Europe for the first time is never easy for any player. Often, newcomers might struggle to find consistency. However, one way to know if you have a special player is to see how great he can be in his best moments.

For Umana Reyer Venice guard [Rayjon Tucker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/rayjon-tucker/012591/), his performance in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's come-from-behind victory over Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana was proof of just how much of a difference-maker he can be. Tucker scored 13 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter as Reyer erased a 12-point deficit to win the game 95-87.

Tucker was at the heart of the comeback. When he raced down the floor for a dunk a minute into the fourth quarter, it showed that he was not ready to give in even though Cedevita was up by 10. Tucker's first three-pointer of the night capped a 9-0 run that made it 79-81 with 5 minutes to go.

Rayjon Tucker dominated in the 4th quarter against Cedevita

His next triple was the go-ahead basket to make it 87-84. Down the stretch, Tucker added a game-clinching slam and 2 more free throws.

All of this came one week after Tucker slumped to a season-low 3 points on 1-of-7 shooting in a 74-68 road loss at Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul.

Against Cedevita, Tucker led his team in minutes played with 32:08 as well as in +/- with plus-17.  That means in the nearly 8 minutes in which Tucker was on the bench, Cedevita outscored Reyer by 10 points!

Tucker's shooting and athleticism were on full display in the fourth quarter as all of his baskets were momentum-shifting plays.

In addition to his 19 points, Tucker tied his season-high with 6 rebounds and set a new personal best with a performance index rating of 21. He raised his season averages to 13.5 points and 4.3 rebounds.

Reyer is now on the cusp of the playoff zone in Group A and heads into a pair of road games at Wolves Vilnius and Prometey Slobozhanske. Wins in those games could dramatically boost Reyer's standing in the group. If Reyer gets the version of Rayjon Tucker we all saw in the fourth quarter on Tuesday for those games, it will be a formidable opponent.

Umana Reyer Venice v Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2023-11-07T19:00:00.000Z)

Umana Reyer Venice assistant coach Emanuele Molin spoke about what helped his team turn things around to beat Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana in Round 6 of the BKT EuroCup 

'Aggressive' Umana Reyer Venezia found a way in the 4th quarter

Sometimes it's easy to look at the box score and understand a game. Other times it helps for a coach to break it down. Such is the case with Umana Reyer Venice's come-from-behind 95-87 victory over Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana on Tuesday.

"I think they were shooting the first three quarters close to 50% \[on three-pointers\] and they ended the game with 34," Reyer assistant coach Emanuele Molin said of Cedevita after the game. Molin coached the team this week with head coach Neven Spahija ill.

Indeed, Cedevita made half of its 16 attempted threes through the game's first 30 minutes, but missed all 7 of their threes in the fourth. Meanwhile, Reyer made 5 of 7 three-pointers (71.4%) in the game's last 8 minutes after shooting 8 for 30 (26.7%) before that. Barry Brown and Rayjon Tucker each made 2 of those fourth-quarter threes for Reyer.

"We struggled for more than 30 minutes. We could not find our rhythm offensively or defensively," Molin said. "There is one stat that is pretty impressive for me. We shot 37 times from the three-point line. This means which kind of aggressiveness we had in the first three quarters.

"In the meantime, the team had the capability to stay focused and find the right chemistry and make some defensive adjustments. We raised our aggressiveness, to be more aggressive defensively, and we found a lot of options offensively."

That aggressiveness on defense led to 5 turnovers forced in the fourth quarter. Those turnovers resulted directly in 7 points, including the game-tying basket by Brown with 2:24 remaining. The hosts made 6 of 8 two-pointers (75%) in the final 10 minutes, with several of those scores coming in transition.

Reyer had started pressing Cedevita already in the third quarter with mixed results. But in the fourth, the momentum turned, as did Reyer's shooting. And suddenly a game that Cedevita had controlled for 34 minutes was heading in a different direction.

Emanuele Molin broke down the numbers and attitude that helped his team rally past Cedevita. 

'Aggressive' Reyer found a way in the 4th quarter

7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys has several new entries in its record book after beating Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse 100-96 in Round 6 of the BKT EuroCup. Five players combined to shoot 8 three-pointers without a miss in the opening quarter, which set the stage for the victory. 

7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys rewrote its record book against  Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse 

7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys has several new entries in its record book after beating Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse 100-96 in Round 6 of the BKT EuroCup. Five players combined to shoot 8 three-pointers without a miss in the opening quarter, which set the stage for the victory.

The 8 threes were the most ever by the club in a single quarter of a EuroCup game, eclipsing the 7 it made in the opening period [against Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/stats/db/U2017/52/#boxscore) in November 2017.

Deividas Sirvydis, Gediminas Orelik and Paulius Valinskas each made 2 triples in the quarter, which saw the hosts surge to a 30-14 lead. Vytenis Lipkevicius and Martynas Vardas each added a three-pointer.

Lietkabelis made a club record 8 triples in the first quarter

### Sirvydis sets new career highs

The game was the 40th for Sirvydis in the competition and he set personal bests in scoring (27), assists (5) and PIR (35) to lead Lietkabelis. He was perfect in 11 trips to the free-throw line.

Sirvydis tied Panagiotis Kalaitzakis for the most free throws made by a Lietkabelis player in a EuroCup game and set a club record for the most free throws made by a Lietkabelis player with a miss. Kalaitzakis shot 11 for 13 from the foul line in an [84-85 loss against Lokomotiv Kuban Kransodar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/stats/db/U2021/14/#boxscore) in October 2021. Jamel Morris made 10 free throws for Lietkabelis without a miss in a [74-71 loss at Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/stats/db/U2022/45/#boxscore) in November of last season.

His 27 points are tied for the most ever by a Lietkabelis player in the EuroCup and his PIR of 35 is third in club history. The respective records are 31 points, shared by [Adas Juskevicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/stats/db/U2017/52/#boxscore) and [Gediminas Orelik](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/stats/db/U2021/33/#boxscore), and a PIR of 38 by Juskevicius and Gytis Maciulis.

New club records set in three-pointers for a quarter, free throws accuracy.

Lietkabelis rewrote its record book in Bourg victory

7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys v Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (2023-11-07T17:00:00.000Z)

Rayjon Tucker helped Umana Reyer Venice rally late to beat Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana 95-87 on Tuesday at Palasport Taliercio. The victory lifted Reyer's record to 2-4 on the season, while winless Cedevita dropped its 11th consecutive game dating back to last season. 

Umana Reyer Venezia rallies to beat Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana 95-87

Rayjon Tucker helped Umana Reyer Venice rally late to beat Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana 95-87 on Tuesday at Palasport Taliercio. The victory lifted Reyer's record to 2-4 on the season, while winless Cedevita dropped its 11th consecutive game dating back to last season.

The score was 70-81 when Aamir Simms scored 4 points in a 9-0 run that turned the game around. Tucker scored 13 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, including the go-ahead triple with 1:24 remaining. Barry Brown led six Reyer scorers in double figures with 21 points. Simms finished with 12 points and Kyle Wiltjer, Marco Spissu and Amedeo Tessitori netted 8 each. Simms added 8 rebounds and Spissu dished 8 assists.

Amadou Sow and Jaka Blazic paced Cedevita with 16 points each. Karlo Matkovic tallied 14 points and 9 rebounds and Klemen Prepelic went for 12 points and a career-high 14 assists in defeat. 

### Blazic helps the visitors jump in front

The teams traded shots early with Wiltjer standing out for the hosts and Sow for the visitors. Neither team led by more than a shot until Shawn Jones gave Cedevita a 14-18 lead. Despite an Alexander O'Connell slam, Blazic heated up from deep to add to the Cedevita advantage. Blazic banked in a jumper for a 21-27 lead after 10 minutes.  

Reyer stayed close and got within 27-29 on a three by Andea De Nicolao. Cedevita responded with back-to-back threes by Jaka Klobucar and Sow. Brown took charge for Reyer, but the hosts had no answer for Sow, who made it 34-41. Matkovic's alley-oop slam stretched the margin to 9. Reyer raced back with 6 straight points before Matkovic made it 42-47 at the break.

### Cedevita extends the difference through Prepelic

Prepelic got going with a pair of jumpers and an assist for Cedevita, though strong play by Tessitori kept Reyer in it. His dunk trimmed the deficit to 54-57.  Jones scored twice in the paint as Cedevita pumped its cushion up to 8, prompting a Reyer timeout. The stoppage did not help much as Prepelic netted free throws and set up Rok Radovic for a triple to make it 56-69. The hosts chipped into the difference, but a free throw by Prepelic ended the third quarter with Cedevita ahead 62-72.

### Tucker ignites Reyer rally

Reyer threatened with a ferocious slam by Tucker and a three by Brown, though Cedevita kept pace. Tessitori fouled out with more than 6 minutes remaining and the visitors restored a double-digit lead with the resulting free throws. Quick baskets by Simms and Brown gave Reyer hope. The run continued and a three by Tucker capped a 9-0 march that made it 79-81. After Prepelic free throws, Brown sank a triple to get his team within 1. Brown would tie it at 84-84 with a layup with 2:24 on the clock. Tucker drilled the go-ahead three exactly 1 minute later. A triple by Spissu gave Reyer a 90-85 lead with 54.4 seconds remaining and Cedevita never recovered.

The hosts trailed by as many as 12 in the fourth quarter before rallying for the win.

Reyer rallies to beat Cedevita 95-87

7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys used a first-quarter blitz to take control for good and held off a late Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse charge to prevail 100-96 on Tuesday night at Kalnapilio Arena in the first game of Round 6 in the BKT EuroCup. 

7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys shoots its way past Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse, 100-96

7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys used a first-quarter blitz to take control for good and held off a late Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse charge to prevail 100-96 on Tuesday night at Kalnapilio Arena in the first game of Round 6 in the BKT EuroCup. With the President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, looking on, Lietkabelis put a three-game losing streak to bed in improving to 2-4 on the season.

Deividas Sirvydis starred with 27 points, including 11-of-11 free-throw shooting, plus 5 assists to lead the winners and Gediminas Orelik added 18 points of which 8 came in the final 4 minutes. Paulius Valinskas and Nikola Popovic each contributed 15 points and Martynas Varnas had 12.

Teenage sensation Zaccharie Risacher scored 18 for Bourg, which dropped to 4-2 in Group B. Bryce Brown netted 16 points, EJ Rowland paired 15 points with 5 assists, Isiaha Mike tallied 13 points and 4 steals and Godwin Omenaka scored 12 in defeat.

### Three-point barrage fuels home team's start

Risacher sank the game's first three-pointer to put Bourg up 2-5, but Orelik scored twice in a 7-0 run to give the hosts the lead. Orelink and Vytenis Lipkevicius each struck from deep and Sirvydis did so twice as Lietkabelis raced to a 21-8 lead. Omenaka and Jeremy Morgan revived the visitors only to see Valinskas and Varnas both join the three-point party. Five different players combined to shoot 8 for 8 from behind the arc as Lietkabelis took a 30-14 lead after 10 minutes.

Maksim Salash and Rowland stood out as Bourg scored the first 6 points of the second quarter before Lietkabelis coach Nenad Canak called a timeout. Nevertheless, after a steal, a Kevin Kokila layup and a three by Brown, it was 30-25. Liutauras Lelevicius ended a 4-minute scoreless drought for Lietkabelis, but Bourg got within 37-35 on a dunk by Kokila. The hosts regrouped and after a Sirvydis shot on the halftime buzzer, the score was 47-39.

A pull-up three by Valinskas opened the scoring in the second half. Popovic scored twice to keep Lietkabelis rolling. Although Brown stepped up for Bourg, he did not have much help and Sirvydis made it 59-49 midway through the third quarter. Sirvydis remained hot as the teams traded shots. Bourg's press started to cause some trouble for the hosts, who led 72-61 through three quarters.  

### Risacher fuels late Bourg rally

A three by Morgan and a layup by Risacher gave Bourg hope, but Lietkabelis seemed to have an answer for each basket. Just when it appeared that the hosts were going to pull away, Bourg scored three straight baskets, the last a Risacher layup after a steal by Mike, to get within 78-74 with 5 minutes remaining. After a timeout, Mike committed an unsportsmanlike foul on Sirvydis and Popovic dunked to give Lietkabelis some breathing room. A triple by Risacher with 2:30 to play made it 87-83 and Rowland's behind-the-back pass to Mike got Bourg within 2 points entering the final minute. Free throws by Orelik and Sirvydis in the final minute helped Lietkabelis put the game on ice.

The hosts buried 8 threes in the first 10 minutes to establish a lead they never relinquished. 

Lietkabelis shoots its way past Bourg, 100-96

### Jaka Lakovic, Gran Canaria head coach

"We will play against a very strong, physical team. They have a lot of offensive talent in all positions. We have to expect a really tough game, and that's why we will need to focus on our things and gameplan."

After suffering its third straight loss with an overtime defeat to Trento last week, Turk Telekom (1-4) has the tough task of bouncing back against reigning champ Gran Canaria (5-0), which has won all six previous meetings between the teams and stayed perfect by downing Lietkabelis in Round 5. Jalen Adams has scored in double digits in every game so far this season for Turk Telekom, and his duel with Andrew Albicy could be a key in deciding the outcome. The Gran Canaria playmaker has averaged 5.2 assists so far this season, helping his team achieve an outstanding 22.2 per night.

Pre-game quotes: Turk Telekom vs. Gran Canaria

Turk Telekom Ankara v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2023-11-08T17:00:00.000Z)

### Mihai Silvasan, Cluj head coach

"We are ahead of a new EuroCup game. It will be a tough match against a really good team. We are talking about the champions of Germany. They have replaced some of the players, but still have a great roster. They have the same coach and share the same winning mentality. Ulm has one of the best offensive games, and a key for us will be defense. We need to play tough and stop their easy shots. For sure we want to celebrate another victory with our fans!"

### Mareks Mejeris, Cluj player

"The last couple of months have been really good. We are building our chemistry and we have a strong direction from our coach. We want to be an aggressive defensive team. That's what we will try to do tomorrow, against a very good offensive team. If we are able to keep them scoring down, it will be beneficial for us."

In the first of eight games on Wednesday, Cluj (4-1) faces Ulm (4-1) for a big showdown at the top of Group 4. It's a clash of styles because Cluj has based its success on defense, allowing just 72.6 points per game - third-best in the competition. Ulm, on the other hand, boasts the fourth-ranked offense with an average of 92 points per game. That attack is powered by Dakota Mathias, who is averaging 18 points per game, and whose talents will be challenged this week by the ball thief skills of DJ Seeley, who has bagged 2.0 steals per game.

Pre-game quotes: Cluj vs. Ulm

### Jacek Winnicki, Slask head coach

"I can assure that I will do everything to ensure that Slask wins as many games as possible. I will try to use all my skills and experience gained over the years. It is a big privilege for me to work in Slask, but also a big responsibility, because I know that expectations from Wroclaw fans are really high."

After winning two games in a row for the first time in two years, Trento (2-3) will aim to take a further step toward the playoffs by continuing to rely on rising star Quinn Ellis, who scored 21 points without a miss in the Round 5 overtime win over Turk Telekom. Winless Slask (0-5) remains rooted to the foot of Group B but can take heart from last week's gutsy overtime loss at Ulm, where Lukasz Kolenda poured in 29 points. If the Polish team can maintain that level of performance, a first win will surely soon come.

Pre-game quotes: Slask vs. Trento

Slask Wroclaw v Dolomiti Energia Trento (2023-11-08T19:00:00.000Z)