Superb first-half defensive outing paved the way for Gran Canaria

The first 20 minutes of its clash away at [Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/roster/can/?season=2024-25) on Wednesday night were enough for [Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/roster/bud/?season=2024-25) to find out why the hosts are considered one of the best defenses in the BKT EuroCup. Gran Canaria came into Wednesday’s duel as the second-stingiest defense in the 2024-25 campaign with just 73.3 points conceded per game and effectively used its finest quality to send a resounding message to the visitors.

Buducnost may have averaged a league sixth-best 85.5 points scored per game in the first 10 rounds, but the Spanish side started strong and held its rival to just 9 in the first quarter. The visitors slightly improved on offense in the second, but Gran Canaria secured a 43-25 cushion at the break.

“Our start of the game, and especially the first half, was very good,” Gran Canaria head coach [Jaka Lakovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/can/lakovic-jaka/?season=U2024) said in the post-game press conference. “We came out with great energy, with great effort and this effort gave us confidence offensively.”

Game Videos

Buducnost’s first half was its lowest-scoring first 20 minutes this season, with forward [Juwan Morgan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/juwan-morgan/013256/) being blunt regarding his team’s performance before the break.

“We’re down 20 points,” he said in the halftime interview. “They play more aggressive than us. They get offensive rebounds. They’re making us look like little kids out here.”

Gran Canaria shared the ball well, registering 12 first-half assists – just 3 fewer than Buducnost’s tally after 40 minutes. The hosts had shot well (6 for 23; 46.2%) from beyond the arc, but more importantly, they missed just 4 of their 16 attempts from inside. Gran Canaria also outrebounded a helpless Buducnost 19-14 in what was a dominant first-half outing that paved a way for its fourth straight victory despite Buducnost’s late attempt to bounce back.

Having climbed top of the Group A standings alongside Bahcesehir College Istanbul (9-2), Gran Canaria will look to overtake the Turkish side as the two teams face each other in a highly-anticipated duel next week. And what better way to send a message to their fellow top-seed contender than producing a similar, emphatic start to the duel at Sinan Erdem Sports Hall. 

Game News

The hosts held Buducnost to just 25 points before the halftime break

Dreamland Gran Canaria v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2024-12-11T20:00:00.000Z)

ratiopharm Ulm’s offense was purring in Round 11 as Ty Harrelson’s team poured in a season-high 102 points thanks to unusually strong inside scoring.

Ulm offense shines with passing, sharing the load

ratiopharm Ulm’s offense was purring in [Round 11](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/?round=11&season=U2024) as [Coach Ty Harrelson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/ratiopharm-ulm/ulm/harrelson-ty/?season=U2024)’s team poured in a season-high 102 points thanks to unusually strong inside scoring.

Ulm grabbed its third straight victory by [winning 88-102](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/joventut-badalona-ratiopharm-ulm/U2024/105/) at Joventut Badalona and has a 7-4 record - even with Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul in third place and [three wins ahead](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/standings/) of the first team outside the playoff zone.

"It’s an important win for us. We want to be in the playoffs and it’s another step in that direction," said Ulm’s talented young point guard [Ben Saraf](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ben-saraf/011437/), who scored a career-high 18 points to go with 2 rebounds and 3 assists. "We executed what coach told us to do. We played aggressive and controlled the rebounds - that’s what gave us the W."

Saraf was one of seven players to score at least 8 points for Ulm, which came into the game averaging 85.0 points per game.

"The strength of our team is all 12 guys playing together and sharing the basketball, playing unselfishly but then also being able to make the one-on-one plays," said Harrelson.

Ulm shot 62.9% on two-pointers - a drastic improvement on its 50.7% clip entering the game as the second-worst team in that category. Ulm also drained 11 of 22 three-pointers - which was not unexpected as the German side ranked fifth in three-point shooting at 36.6% entering the game.

Ulm did not exactly shine on defense though, but the relatively inexperienced team has been struggling with that all season - ranking last in 90.0 points per game allowed and 60.0% on two-pointers. And Joventut made 66.7% of its close range attempts.

The main thing for Harrelson is the team grabbed a road victory.

"Any time we can go on the road in the EuroCup and steal a win I think it’s very important for us. As we gain more experience and get more time together I feel like the team is playing better each week," said the American, whose team is now 4-3 away from home this season.

Ulm scored a season-high 102 points and is in a strong spot to make playoffs

Ulm's offense shined with passing, sharing the load

Joventut Badalona v ratiopharm Ulm (2024-12-11T19:30:00.000Z)

Five BKT EuroCup games for Brynton Lemar, five wins!


Lemar steps up to stay undefeated

[Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/valencia-basket/roster/pam/?season=2024-25) remains undefeated in the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup. There is someone else, however, who hasn't lost until now.

[Brynton Lemar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/brynton-lemar/013261/) had another strong performance to lead [Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/roster/lju/?season=2024-25) to [a 75-80 road victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/cedevita-gets-pivotal-win-in-venice-75-80/) over [Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/roster/vnc/?season=2024-25). With this win, Lemar registered his fifth victory in as many games.

Lemar helped Cedevita win its first two games, on the road against [U-BT Cluj-Napoca, 86-93](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/cedevita-olimpija-rallies-to-stun-cluj-in-a-thriller/), and at home [against Reyer, 87-82](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/ec2425-rs2-report-lju-vnc/). After missing six games due to injury, Lemar returned in Round 9. He led Cedevita to a [95-68 home win over Veolia Towers Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/cedevita-olimpija-coasts-to-95-68-win-against-hamburg/) with 11 points, 3 assists and 5 fouls drawn. Lemar did much better in [Round 10 against Cluj](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/cedevita-olimpija-wins-shootout-with-cluj-at-home-103-96/), getting 23 points on 10 of 10 free throws, 4 rebounds and a PIR of 24 in a 103-96 home win.

In his second game against Reyer, Lemar showed again his best version, hitting one clutch shot after the next in the fourth quarter to make sure his team grabbed a pivotal road victory.

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana guard Brynton Lemar had 23 points on 6 of 9 two-pointers, 3 of 3 three-pointers and 2 of 2 free throws, adding 3 rebounds, 2 steals and a career-high PIR of 27 in his team's 75-80 road win over Umana Reyer Venice.

Lemar leads Cedevita past Reyer

After a 10-0 Reyer run that gave the hosts their last lead, 47-46, Lemar stepped up with a backdoor layup and a fadeaway jumper in an 1-8 run that put Cedevita ahead for good, 47-54. Once in the fourth quarter, Lemar buried a couple of jumpers and added a three-pointer to make sure his team stayed in the driver's seat until the final buzzer.

Lemar finished the game with 23 points on 6-of-9 two-point shooting, 3-of-3 on three-pointers and 2-of-2 on free throws, plus 3 rebounds and 2 steals for a career-high PIR of 27. In his five victories with Cedevita, Lemar has averaged 16.8 points on 13 of 28 three-pointers (46.4% 3FG) and 23 of 26 free throws (88.5% FT) for a PIR of 18.6.

"It was a team effort. We fought, stuck to the game plan and came out with the W," Lemar said after game. "This is very important. Every game is important but this one is special because we are fighting for playoffs and fighting to win a championship, so every win is important. I am proud of my team, it was great."

Cedevita is 9-4 and has a 2-0 record against Cluj and Reyer, two of its direct rivals in the playoff race. Its next game is at Stozice Arena against the first team that handed Cedevita a loss this season, Turk Telekom Ankara, which also comes off an important victory. Tune in on Wednesday at 18:30 CET.

In five BKT EuroCup games for Brynton Lemar, his club has ... five wins!


Cedevita's Brynton Lemar stepped up to stay undefeated

Umana Reyer Venice v Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2024-12-11T19:00:00.000Z)

Lietkabelis ended up sealing the outcome in the last 3 minutes of the game, outscoring its opponent 4-10 when the score was tied, 83-83.

Timely rebounding allowed Lietkabelis to finally smile on the road

[7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/lietkabelis-panevezys/roster/lkb/?season=2024-25) ended a three-game losing streak when it defeated [Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-bank-yahav-jerusalem/roster/jer/) at Samokov Arena in Bulgaria on Wednesday night. The Lithuanians could finally enjoy a road victory after having lost to [U-BT Cluj-Napoca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/cluj-holds-off-lietkabeliss-comeback-100-93/) (100-93), [Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/ec2425-rs4-report-lju-lkb/) (76-72) and [Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/ec2425-rs1-report-ttk-lkb/) (72-66).

In Lietkebelis's last three losses, it had performed pretty well on offense, scoring 93 points each time but falling short in the end. This time, Lietkabelis didn’t repeat the same mistake and ended up sealing the outcome in the last 3 minutes of the game, outscoring its opponent 4-10 when the score was tied, 83-83.

“\[It was a\] very important win for us. Finally, we managed to convert the good game into a victory, what we didn't do in the last two games in Europe,” celebrated Lietkabelis head coach [Nenad Canak](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/7bet-lietkabelis-panevezys/lkb/canak-nenad/).

“We controlled the game. We didn't panic in some moments when Hapoel tried to change some defensive systems”, he continued. “And we controlled the rebound at the end, and it was very important for us that we just took 18 points in the last quarter, as we had many problems in previous games in the last quarters."

Rebounding, as Canak stressed, was a key factor in deciding the game, but not in the usual way. It was not because of a massive difference in the number of rebounds, as the visitors were slightly better, with 31 rebounds against Jerusalem's 27, and it was not either about the second-chance points difference, because Jerusalem even led that category with 13 against 10.

It was not about how many; it was all about when.

“We played bad, we didn't take the rebounds. You cannot win without rebounds... They had five more possessions in the last 2 minutes. So, they won,” Jerusalem head coach [Yonatan Alon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-bank-yahav-jerusalem/jer/alon-yonatan/?season=U2024) pointed out in the press conference. “We cannot turn the ball over so many times, and second, we need to play better defense. It’s not what we are. We need to go back to the fundamentals.”

That analysis can be summarized with the key plays that ended up deciding the game when the game was on the line. First, when the score was 81-81, two consecutive offensive rebounds by [Marko Percarski](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/marko-pecarski/005656/) and [Gabrielius Maldunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/gabrielius-maldunas/010461/) allowed [Martynas Varnas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/martynas-varnas/005521/) to push his team ahead 81-83. Then, and few seconds later, [Mantas Rubstavicius ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mantas-rubstavicius/009299/)buried 3 consecutive free throws to start the final run, which continued with an off-the-steal basket by Maldunas and finished with a layup by [Oleksandr Kovliar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/oleksandr-kovliar/013247/) after - again - two consecutive offensive rebounds by Maldunas and Pecarski.

“It's an amazing team victory,” Maldunas celebrated. “Finally, we won on the road. If we play like this, we are a very good team. We played two good games in EuroCup before this one, but we came up short and lost by a couple of points, but now we finally came through”.

This win gave Lietkabelis a much clearer and cleaner vision of the upcoming challenges, returning its hopes of reaching the postseason.

“Of course, we're still alive,” Canak assured. “We are still alive and when you are alive in a competition, it's easier to practice, easier to accept new things. So, it's very important for us.”

The Lithuanians made the most from Jerusalem's mistakes in the last minutes

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem v 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (2024-12-11T18:30:00.000Z)

Dreamland Gran Canaria extended its winning streak to four games by beating Buducnost VOLI Podgorica 82-71 at Gran Canaria Arena on Wednesday night. 

Gran Canaria raced past Buducnost, 82-71

Dreamland Gran Canaria extended its winning streak to four games by beating Buducnost VOLI Podgorica 82-71 at Gran Canaria Arena on Wednesday night. The hosts led from start to finish and improved their record to 9-2, moving top of Group A along with Bahcesehir College Istanbul. Buducnost recorded its second consecutive loss to drop to 4-7.

John Shurna led all scorers with 18 points, Pierre Pelos netted 14 and Miquel Salvo added 12. For Buducnost, Yogi Ferrell had 16 points and Fletcher Magee recorded 14. Juwan Morgan chipped in with 11 points and 9 rebounds, with Nikola Tanaskovic scoring 10.

Salvo opened the scoring with a bucket inside but Yogi Ferrell nailed a triple and Tanaskovic opened his account for a 2-5 lead. Joe Thomasson and Shurna responded with back-to-back threes that put the hosts ahead, 8-6. Ferrell tied it with a buzzer-beating jumper, but George Conditt and Salvo netted inside before Pierre Pelos drilled a triple to open a 16-8 lead. Then, Caleb Homesley came off the bench to sink a three-pointer before setting up Pelos for an easy basket, with Gran Canaria securing a 21-9 cushion after 10 minutes.

Morgan opened the second quarter with a dunk before Alen Omic and McKinley Wright trimmed the deficit to 21-16. Pelos ended Buducnost’s 0-7 run with a midrange jumper, which was Gran Canaria’s first score in 3 and a half minutes. What followed was an exchange of blows inside before Homesley drilled one from beyond the arc, extending the margin to double digits, 32-21. A Massamba Diop bucket in transition, Shurna’s second triple of the night and Joe Thomasson’s basket extended their team’s run to 12-0. Four hard-fought points from Andrija Slavkovic were not enough to end Gran Canaria’s momentum, with the hosts taking a 43-25 lead into halftime.

Andrew Albicy netted a long two-pointer, before Mateo Dreznjak and Salvo traded triples, as Gran Canaria maintained a 49-28 lead. Homesley and Shurna joined the three-point party, extending the lead to 55-30. Yet, three-point plays from Tanaskovic and Ferrell brought Buducnost within 58-38. The game turned into a back-and-forth affair, with Morgan taking his tally to 10 points with back-to-back baskets that only managed to slightly cut the difference to 63-45. Conditt IV took over with two buckets inside, but Ferrell netted one from deep to reduce the gap to 67-51 heading into the closing quarter.

The guests were not willing to give up and 5 unanswered points from Magee brought Buducnost within 69-56. Mike Tobey’s first basket of the night was followed by triples from Wright and Magee, who trimmed the deficit to 73-63 with less than 3 minutes left on the clock. But Gran Canaria didn’t blink an eye, tightened up its defense in the remaining time and sealed the outcome.

The hosts led by double digits for the majority of the game

Gran Canaria races past Buducnost, 82-71

Brynton Lemar stepped up big at Palasport Taliercio 


Cedevita gets pivotal win in Venice, 75-80! 

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana took a crucial step towards reaching the playoffs from Group A by downing Umana Reyer Venice 75-80 on the road on Wednesday. Cedevita improved to 7-4 in the standings and has a 2-0 record against Reyer, which dropped to 5-6. 

Brynton Lemar led the winners with 23 points and Andrija Stipanovic added 10 for Cedevita. Jordan Parks and Mfiondu Kabengele led Reyer with 20 points apiece. Kyle Wiltjer and Rodney McGruder each added 10 for Reyer. Parks added 10 rebounds for a double-double.

Lemar got Cedevita going with a jumper. Joan Beringer added a put-back dunk and DJ Stewart's fastbreak layup caused Reyer to call timeout at 0-6. Aleksej Nikolic scored off an inbounds steal and then Beringer bettered Wiltjer's jumper with a huge dunk-and-foul for a 2-11 Cedevita lead. After Beringen scored again, Kabengele found his first points, but Lemar's three-pointer boosted the visitors' lead to 4-16. Parks stepped up for Reyer and got plenty of help from Kabengele to bring Reyer within 15-18. Stipanovic followed a three-point play with a put-back layup that made it 16-23. Martinas Geben and Devante Jones pushed the margin to double digits, 17-27, after 10 minutes. 

 

Gregor Glas took over with a fastbreak layup early in the second quarter. Kabengele hit a stop-and-pop jumper and Tyler Ennis's three-point play brought Reyer within 22-29. Parks buried a corner triple to cap an 8-0 run. Lemar struck from downtown and Stipanovic's fastbreak slam prompted the hosts to stop the game at 25-34. Nikolic banked in a close shot and added a layup-plus-foul. McGruder followed a corner triple with a layup in a 7-0 run that got Reyer within 32-39. Geben hit a jumper before Kabengele and Jaka Blazic traded three-pointers. Wiltjer drew his team within 37-44. Blazic scored again and Parks's alley-oop dunk fixed the halftime score at 39-46.

Kabengele hit a close jumper soon after the break and McGruder struck from downtown to make it a 2-point game. Parks joined the three-point shooting to complete Reyer's comeback, 47-46, after a 10-0 run. Lemar stepped up with a backdoor layup and a fadeaway jumper. Devin Robinson scored twice in penetration for a 47-54 Cedevita edge. Amedeo Tessitori and Davide Casarin rescued Reyer before Stewart gave the visitors fresh air at 51-57. Tessitori beat the buzzer with a put-back basket that got Reyer within 53-57 after 30 minutes.

Geben hit a jump hook early in the fourth quarter and Lemar buried a five-meter jumper hat boosted Cedevita's lead to 53-61 with over 7 minutes left. Stipanovic scored down low and Blazic's fast break layup made it 53-65. After Robinson dunked off a steal, Parks did better with a three-point play and McGruder brought Reyer within single digits, 58-67. Lemar hit an off-balance jumper in the lane and bettered Simms's driving layup with a bomb from beyond the arc. Kabengele followed a jumper with his second three-pointer. Simms added a coast-to-coast dunk that cato used Cedevita call timeout at 69-75. Stewart stopped the show with a huge dunk that sealed the outcome, as Reyer did not recover in the final 2 minutes.

Cedevita gets pivotal win in Venice, 75-80

ratiopharm Ulm remained in the running for third place in Group A as it swept the season series against Joventut Badalona with a commanding 88-102 road victory

Ulm downs Joventut, 88-102, for third straight victory 

ratiopharm Ulm remained in the running for third place in Group A as it swept the season series against Joventut Badalona with a commanding 88-102 road victory. Ulm collected its third straight win since the national team break after having lost four of the previous five games for a 7-4 record. Ben Saraf led the way with 18 points, Justinian Jessup had 16 points and 4 three-pointers, Marcio Santos scored 14 points and Karim Jallow chipped in 12 points. 

Joventut’s nightmare season continued with a third straight defeat and seventh in the last eight games for a 3-8 record - three wins away from the playoff ranks. Kassius Robertson paced Joventut with a career-high 23 points - his second straight round of establishing a personal best mark - and Devon Dotson added 18 points in the loss. 

Santos opened the scoring for the visitors while Joventut saw veteran big man Ante Tomic get hit with 2 fouls inside the first 57 seconds. It was 0-4 before Joventut finally scored after more than 2 minutes. Joventut’s backup big man Artem Pustovyi was sent back to the bench with 2 fouls after less than 3 minutes played. Santos scored Ulm’s first 9 points and Isaiah Roby’s three-pointer made it 2-12. Santos added a triple of his own for a 4-15 margin. The guests just kept pouring it on offensively with Saraf scoring 5 points as the cushion grew to 12-29. It was 16-32 after 10 minutes. 

Karim Jallow’s nice move in the paint had Ulm up 21-39 early on in the second quarter. Back-to-back triples trimmed the deficit to 27-39 but Jessup hit his second three-pointer to increase the lead to 19 points at 27-46. Joventut again got the gap to 12 points but trailed 42-56 at the break 

Jessup scored 4 points early in the second half to put Ulm up 46-64 and his 4th three-pointer had the guests ahead 50-67. Sam Dekker stepped up for back-to-back dunks as Joventut found itself down 56-67. Philipp Herkenhoff and Saraf both knocked down triples at the other end and Ulm was up 61-76. Herkenhoff added another three-pointer and Ulm led 70-85 after three quarters.

The duo of Robertson and Dotson kept trying to make the game close but it could not slow down the Ulm offense, and Herkenhoff’s third three-pointer made it 76-94 with less than 6 minutes to go. The advantage grew to 20 points and Joventut could only make the final result a bit more respectable in the closing minute. 

Ulm beats Joventut again thanks to balanced effort 

Conor Morgan, Kyle Allman and Derek Needham combined for 46 points as Besiktas Istanbul prevailed 89-82, canceling out Tai Odiase’s massive effort for Bahcesehir as the big man dominated with 20 points and 8 boards.

Besiktas trio was too much for battling Odiase in Istanbul derby 

[Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/besiktas-istanbul/roster/bes/?season=2024-25) came out on top against visiting [Bahcesehir College Istanbul ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/roster/bah/?season=2024-25)in an absorbing Istanbul derby as the home team had too much firepower for the BTK EuroCup Group A leader, with the home team’s clutch trio delivering the goods.

[Conor Morgan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/conor-morgan/009680/), [Kyle Allman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kyle-allman/011924/) and [Derek Needham](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/derek-needham/008945/) combined for 46 points as [Besiktas prevailed 89-82](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/besiktas-overpowers-bahcesehir-89-82-in-istanbul-derby/), canceling out [Tai Odiase](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tai-odiase/011823/)’s massive effort for the visitors as the big man dominated with 20 points and 8 boards.

Bahcesehir was left with too much work to do in the second half after trailing 58-43 at the interval, having fallen behind 49-29 late in the first half due to lethal three-point shooting from Besiktas.

The hosts were 10 of 17 from downtown at halftime while the visitors made only 2 of 9, as Besiktas played airtight defense on the perimeter and forced Bahcesehir to take a barrage of tough shots.

The visiting team turned the tables in the second half as Besiktas, which was 9 of 13 from long range at one point, finished on 13 from 28 but Bahcesehir was unable to capitalize down the stretch as it was contained to a shambolic 3 of 17 from deep.

Morgan, who went the extra mile to make light of big man [Emanuel Terry](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/emanuel-terry/010652/)’s absence, acknowledged Besiktas came out with all guns blazing before being forced to weather the storm down the stretch.  

“We came out and played super hard, we brought the energy and effort,” said Morgan, who posted 17 points, 7 boards, 3 assists and 2 blocks. “Bahcesehir at times struggled to match that and it’s a big win for us moving forward.”

Besiktas head coach Dusan Alimpijevic was also pleased with the outcome. “\[Bahcesehir\] is a good team and we surely didn’t expect it to be easy,” the Serbian tactician said after seeing his outfit get sweet revenge for a crushing 87-66 loss in the reverse fixture.

“They are top of our group and that means something. All credit to my team, we played a pretty good game and it’s our third win in a row without the injured big man,” he emphasized.  

In Round 12, Besiktas visits Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv while Bahcesehir is at home to second-placed Dreamland Gran Canaria, in what should be a pair of rip-roaring clashes in the top half of the table.   

Conor Morgan, Kyle Allman and Derek Needham forced the brilliant Tai Odiase into submission 

Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2024-12-11T18:00:00.000Z)

U-BT Cluj-Napoca is back to a winning record and just a win away from the second place in Group B after a dramatic 89-86 win over the visiting Cosea JL Bourg en Bresse. The Romanian team, which has opened the season with a 0-3 record, has now won six of its last eight games, including four straight on home floor.

Cluj overcame absences, turnovers to keep charging

[U-BT Cluj-Napoca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/u-bt-cluj-napoca/roster/clu/?season=2024-25) is back to a winning record and just one win away from second place in Group B after [a dramatic 89-86 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/cluj-edges-bourg-in-a-thriller-89-86/) over visiting [Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/jl-bourg-en-bresse/roster/bou/?season=2024-25) on Wednesday. The Romanian champions, which opened the season with a 0-3 record, have now won six of their last eight games, including four straight at home.

It also did so despite some major absences.

Team leader and last season's All-EuroCup guard [Patrick Richard](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/patrick-richard/011801/) is missing in action since Round 5, and will be out long term with a broken forearm. Meanwhile, [Adam Mokoka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/adam-mokoka/012698/) who has been averaging 12.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists of the bench, missed this game.

The problem turned out to be an extra motivation for Cluj.

"It's a really good \[victory\]," star guard [Zavier Simpson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/zavier-simpson/013302/) said after the win. "We held it down for the guys on the sideline, Pat \[Patrick Richard\] and Adam \[Mokoka\] who are not able to join us on the court."

What's more, Cluj had 23 turnovers in this game, and with Cluj clinging to a 84-79 lead, [Karel Guzman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/karel-guzman/011797/) fouled out with 1:45 to go as Bourg was threatening to come back.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">THIS SEQUENCE 😱😮<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MagicMoments?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MagicMoments</a> <a href="https://t.co/s1lSvoIIMq">pic.twitter.com/s1lSvoIIMq</a></p>&mdash; BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1866924324105621567?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

The visitors did rally and took the lead on a four-point play by [Xavier Castaneda](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/xavier-castaneda/013266/), just 37 seconds before the final buzzer, but the man responsible for committing that foul, [DJ Seeley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/dennis-seeley/004862/), redeemed himself 15 seconds later. Seeley used all his calm and experience to knock down a corner three with 22 seconds to go, giving the hosts an 86-84 lead, which Cluj preserved.

"Being able to protect our home floor against a phenomenal team, it's good," Simpson added. "It's a team-effort win."

Simpson was a front and center of it, playing all but 87 seconds of this 40-minute contest, and scoring 27 points and dishing a club record 11 assists.

But alongside Simpson, there was big man [De'Shawn Stephens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/de-shawn-stephens/006618/) who was 7-for-7 on two-pointers, scoring 7 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter. And there was Seeley, who also had 7 of his 14 points in the fourth.

All that helped Cluj overcome not only absences of key players on this night, but also 23 turnovers.

"I think it says a lot about our offense", Coach Mihai Silvasan explained after the game. "On 23 possessions we did not shoot the ball and we still scored 89 points."

"Hopefully we can use this win to keep us going with the same energy," Simpson concluded.

Indeed, that will be the goal for Cluj. Next week, in the final EuroCup game of this calendar year, the team will travel to face the unbeaten Valencia Basket, before trying to make a playoff push in the final six regular season games in January and early February.

The Romanian champs are back in business with their sixth win in the last eight games

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (2024-12-11T17:00:00.000Z)