Marko Simonovic who led Bahcesehir College Istanbul in scoring in the fourth quarter with 9 of his 11 points against ratiopharm Ulm

Unsung Marko Simonovic stepped up with big fourth quarter for Bahcesehir

[Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/roster/bah/?season=2024-25) has been taking the BKT EuroCup by storm this season with a roster stacked with EuroLeague-level players receiving loads of attention. [Marko Simonovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/marko-simonovic/012711/) hasn’t been talked about much despite a strong season, and he stepped up big in the fourth quarter of a [hard-fought victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bahcesehir-comes-up-with-big-plays-to-fight-past-ulm-grab-fifth-straight-victory/). 

Bahcesehir never was able to put away [ratiopharm Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/ratiopharm-ulm/roster/ulm/?season=2024-25) but used a solid fourth quarter to keep the hosts at bay in a 72-80 road win for a fifth straight victory and a 7-1 record atop Group A. 

"In the fourth quarter, we really played smart. Throughout the game, we had some good moments but then we had terrible moments,” said [Mateusz Ponitka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mateusz-ponitka/004172/), who tallied 12 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. 

Game Videos

Ponitka was one of four players to score in double figures. [Sehmus Hazer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/sehmus-hazer/011201/) poured in 20 points and [Tai Odiase ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tai-odiase/011823/)added 14 points including a couple of massive dunks. 

Still, it was the unsung Simonovic who led the team in scoring in the fourth quarter with 9 of his 11 points. He started with 2 free throws and then knocked down a triple, which turned a tie game into a 7-point lead. The 25-year-old added a push shot in the lane and a reverse layup to keep Bahcesehir up 66-71. 

The Montenegro big man then showed up on defense, grabbing big defensive rebounds with 105 and 67 seconds remaining - both times after Ulm had snatched offensive rebounds but failed to convert. He finished with 11 points and 5 rebounds.

Marko Simonovic left his mark in Ulm

Simonovic played the first half of last season in the EuroLeague with[ Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/statistics/red/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) before moving to the EuroCup in January 2024 and joining Besiktas Istanbul.

The 2.13-meter center also stood out for the Montenegro national team at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 and FIBA EuroBasket 2022. Still, he has not been noticed much this season with all the other star talent on Bahcesehir’s roster.

But Simonovic definitely deserves some love as he has now scored in double figures in seven of the team’s eight EuroCup games, averaging 11.6 points per game. He is also shooting 43.5% on three-pointers to go with 82.9% from the foul line as well as 4.6 rebounds. 

Game News

The big man scored 9 fourth-quarter points in Wednesday’s win

ratiopharm Ulm v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2024-11-13T18:00:00.000Z)

U-BT Cluj-Napoca grabbed its fourth win in five games by downing 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys 100-93 at home, with Zavier Simpson enjoying a night to remember. 

Zavier Simpson, Lietkabelis set records in huge game

[U-BT Cluj-Napoca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/u-bt-cluj-napoca/clu/) grabbed its fourth win in five games by downing [7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/7bet-lietkabelis-panevezys/lkb/) [100-93](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/cluj-holds-off-lietkabeliss-comeback-100-93/) at home, with [Zavier Simpson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/zavier-simpson/013302/) enjoying a night to remember. The guests battled until the very end, however, rallying from a 27-point third-quarter deficit. 

In fact, Lietkabelis set a new record for most points in any quarter in EuroCup history, 42. [Oleksandr Kovliar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/oleksandr-kovliar/013247/) was the catalyst of this record, scoring all of his 11 points in the fourth quarter. [Mantas Rubstavicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/mantas-rubstavicius/009299/) also had 11 points in the fourth quarter and [Georgios Kalaitzakis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/georgios-kalaitzakis/006586/) added 9 in the final 3 minutes. Lietkabelis trailed 76-51 at the end of the third quarter.

Unicaja Malaga and Cosea JL Bourg en Bresse shared the previous record with 41 points apiece. Lietkabelis head coach Nenad Canak could not see his team's record in the sidelines, as he was ejected late in the third quarter.

"I mean, this is basketball," Cluj head coach Mihai Silvasan said after the game. "We know that they never give up and they came back. 

"We relaxed a little in the fourth quarter. We only allowed 42 points because of our mindset. We thought that the game is over 5-7 minutes before the end. 

"So that almost cost us, but a win is a win. We are 4-4 and move forward. We took another win in the EuroCup. We are there in a playoff spot, so that's good for us."

Simpson was also wary of Lietkabelis's threat, but is happy that his team came out on top.

"We knew that going into halftime. They have some good players, some guys that can shoot. They executed well, so we knew they were going to come back," Simpson said. "And obviously, it came close to doing what we wanted. But at the same time, we are just grateful that we're able to get the dub."

He finished the game with 32 points, hitting 7 of 11 two-pointers, 2 of 4 three-pointers and 12 of 13 free throws.

Simpson sets club record in Round 8

As for Cluj, Simpson was once again at the center of it all.

Simpson several club records against Lietkabelis. He finished the game with 32 points, hitting 7-of-11 two-pointers, 2-of-4 three-pointers and 12-of-13 free throws. He is the first Cluj player to score 30 or more points in a BKT EuroCup game. He already had the club's previous scoring record with 28 points against Veolia Towers Hamburg earlier this season.

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Simpson was also close to his team's PIR record, which belongs to Emanuel Cate with 38. In addition, he amassed a PIR of 34, a new personal best.

"I just came out just hot and my teammates trusted me. But most importantly, I'm just happy we got the dub before we go on this little break and hopefully, this dub can get us some momentum to keep rolling," Simpson added.

The Cluj guard could not be stopped in Round 8

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (2024-11-13T17:00:00.000Z)

Bahcesehir College Istanbul remained in sole possession of first place in Group A as it fought past ratiopharm Ulm 72-80 on the road for a fifth straight victory.  

Bahcesehir comes up with big plays to fight past Ulm, grab fifth straight victory 

Bahcesehir College Istanbul remained in sole possession of first place in Group A as it fought past ratiopharm Ulm 72-80 on the road for a fifth straight victory.  The Turkish team decided the game with bigger plays down the stretch to improve to 7-1 heading into the national team break.

Sehmus Hazer paced Bahcesehir with 20 points, 5 assists and 4 steals, Tai Odiase scored 14 points, Mateusz Ponitka flirted with a triple-double in collecting 12 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists and Marko Simonovic added 11 points and 5 rebounds.

Ulm dropped to 4-4 with its first home loss of the season and fourth defeat in the last five games. Alfonso Plummer drained 4 three-pointers in scoring 18 points while Justinian Jessup had 13 points and Ben Saraf chipped in 10 points and 4 assists. 

The first quarter was not very high scoring with Ulm’s Karim Jallow and Hazer both netting 4 points as the hosts led 9-7. Bahcesehir temporarily took the lead, but then was held scoreless for nearly 3 minutes as Noa Essengue scored 5 points to help Ulm pull ahead 16-10. The score was 16-13 after 10 minutes.

Bahcesehir trimmed the gap to 16-15 to start the second quarter only to see Philipp Herkenhoff drain 2 triples and Plummer also hit from deep to push Ulm ahead 25-17. Ponitka started taking over for the visitors with 7 points to get the game even at 30-30. Hazer tallied 4 points as Bahcesehir finished the first half stronger to lead 36-41 at the break.

Hazer scored 4 quick points early in the second half to give Bahcesehir its biggest lead of the game, 38-45. Jessup had 4 points at the other end but the home side could not get the gap closer than 5 points before Bahcesehir led 45-52. Another Plummer triple got the home side to within 52-54 and it was 52-56 after 30 minutes.

Ulm tied the game again 58-58 after yet another three-pointer from Plummer and Marcio Santos’s three-point play. Simonovic began taking over with 7 points as Bahcesehir went up 62-69. Ulm three times managed to get the deficit to 3 points but the visitors showed their big-game experience with Jaleen Smith hitting a big layup for a 70-77 lead with 89 seconds to go. 

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem earned a hard-fought 86-77 victory over visiting Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse at Samokov Arena on Wednesday night to improve its record to 6-2 and claim sole possession of second place in Group B. 

Hapoel used big second half to beat Bourg, 86-77

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem earned a hard-fought 86-77 victory over visiting Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse at Samokov Arena on Wednesday night to improve its record to 6-2 and claim sole possession of second place in Group B. Jerusalem trailed 37-41 at halftime, but outscored its opponent 21-8 in the 6 first minutes of the third period to take control of the game and never look back. Bourg, which missed top scorer Xavier Castaneda, dropped to 5-3.

Gabi Chachasvili led the winners with a monster double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds for a career-high PIR of 29. Jared Harper followed with 18 points and 9 assists, Khadeen Carrington poured in 14 points and Yovel Zoosman netted 10. Jordan Usher was the game's top-scorer with 22 points for Bourg, while Brandon Paul scored 16 and Kevin Kokila pulled down 11 rebounds in the losing effort.

Kokila and Usher combined early in the game to grant the visitors a 0-5 edge. Both teams struggled to find the right offensive momentum, though, with several offenses missed due to poor long-range shooting. Kokila had a crucial role at that moment, providing the visitors with several second-chance attacks that Maksim Salash exploited to make it 5-13 after scoring 4 points in a row. Harper instantly came to the rescue with back-to-back threes and Zoosman continued with a couple of free throws that dramatically closed the gap to 15-15. Another bomb by Zoosman completed the rally and gave Jerusalem its first lead, which Derek Oigbide confirmed with a monster alley-oop to end the first quarter at 22-21.

Baskets were a few and far between in the beginning of the second quarter, despite an early sharpshooting exchange between Paul and Harper. As a result, the game remained even, 26-26, right before a Bourg timeout with 6 minutes to play in the quarter. Usher converted a three-point play and Paul provided a triple to put Bourg back in charge, 31-36. Zoosman and Carrington unsuccessfully tried to get things going for Jerusalem on the other side. The hosts decided to stop the game to regroup and changed tactics to start feeding Chachasvili inside. It worked fine, as it aborted the visitors’ getaway, but Paul and Usher kept rocking and combined to keep Bourg ahead, 37-41, at halftime.

The intermission seemed to help Jerusalem more, as a 7-0 run in 2 minutes boosted the hosts to a 44-41 advantage, matching their biggest so far. Even though Adrian Morgan showed up with a three and a layup to tie it at 46-46, that spark was a first warning for Bourg. Chachashvili took over again to punish the visitors inside and Harper joined later with 5 points in a row that pushed Hapoel up, 55-46, midway through the third period. Usher broke the trend from behind the arc, as Bourg took advantage of a steal and offensive rebounding to close the gap to 58-55, but a closing 5-0 run capped by a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Or Cornelius set a 63-55 advantage for Jerusalem entering the last stanza.

The run continued early in the fourth with Noam Dovrat and Carrington combining for another 4 points that made it a double-digit gap for the first time in the game, 67-55. The first basket by Maxime Courby was immediately responded to by a tip-in by Chachashvili and that was when Bourg stopped the game to find solutions. The Jerusalem center punished again with a hook shot to make it 72-59. Paul made his fourth triple and Hugo Benitez converted an offensive rebound to keep Bourg’s heart beating but that was the closest the visitors could get close to. A deep three by Harper, who came back after spraining his ankle, returned a double-digit lead to his team with 3 minutes remaining and Carrington followed from outside to confirm the outcome, 85-72, entering the last minute.

Gabi Chachashvili played a major role in the win with career-highs of 20 points and 11 boards

Jerusalem used big second half to beat Bourg, 86-77

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem v Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (2024-11-13T18:00:00.000Z)

Dreamland Gran Canaria used a big fourth-quarter run to pull out a 74-76 road win over Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul.

'Determined' Gran Canaria got a big one on the road

It might have been far from pretty but [Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/roster/can/?season=2024-25) got back to its winning ways, pulling out an [important 74-76 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/gran-canaria-holds-off-besiktas-74-76/) over [Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/besiktas-istanbul/roster/bes/?season=2024-25) on Wednesday.

"It was a tough game, very physical", said Gran Canaria head coach [Jaka Lakovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/can/lakovic-jaka/?season=U2024) after the game.

It was a contest in which both teams struggled offensively. They each had 16 turnovers and for Besiktas, it meant as many turnovers as assists, while Gran Canaria had only 14 helpers.

Each team missed 8 free throws. Besiktas made 8 triples on 32.0% shooting while Gran Canaria made 7 threes on 35.0% shooting.

Gran Canaria led throughout the third quarter, but Besiktas had a strong finish to the third, a 10-0 run that erased a deficit and made it 57-53 after 30 minutes.

However, with the shots still not falling, Gran Canaria turned to its defense and used a 2-15 run that opened a 63-72 lead.

"We actually lost momentum in the third quarter but we were persistent enough," Jakovic explained. "We showed character in this tough court against a great team. In the fourth quarter, we were focused enough, and determined to get this win."

So, Gran Canaria stole one on the road against one of its direct rivals in a race for top two places in Group A. The team held its opponents under 80 points for sixth straight game, and at 6-2, the team is well positioned going into the EuroCup's two-week break.

Gran Canaria used a big fourth-quarter run to pull out a 74-76 road win

Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2024-11-13T17:00:00.000Z)

U-BT Cluj-Napoca recorded its second consecutive home win in Group B by thrashing 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys 100-93 at home in Round 8 on Tuesday. 


Cluj holds off Lietkabelis's comeback, 100-93! 

U-BT Cluj-Napoca recorded its second consecutive home win in Group B by thrashing 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys 100-93 at home in Round 8 on Wednesday.

Cluj improved to 4-4 in the standings while Lietkabelis dropped to 2-5. Zavier Simpson led the winners with a club record 32 points plus 5 assists. Zach Hankins added 15 points, Sasu Salin scored 14 and D.J. Seeley added 12 for Cluj. Mantas Rubstavicius paced Lietkabelis with 25 points. Georgios Kalaitzakis netted 13, Oleksandr Kovliar and Andrija Stipanovic each had 11 and Martynas Varnas added 10 for the visitors.

Stipanovic and Rubstavicius combined for all the points in a 0-6 opening run. Simpson answered from downtown, igniting a 9-2 run that Hankins capped with a layup that gave Cluj a 9-8 lead. Rubstavicius insisted from beyond the arc. Seeley matched that with a three-point play and Simpson's jumper boosted his team's lead to 14-11. Hankins and Adam Mokoka each dunked and then Simpson improved on Marko Pecarski's tip-in with a layup-plus-foul. Mokoka scored around the basket and Simpson's triple made it a double-digit game, 27-16. Mihai Maciuca joined the three-point shootout and Gabrielius Maldunas brought Lietkabelis within 32-18 after 10 minutes.

DeShawn Stephens dunked early in the second quarter and Salin bettered Maldunas's second-chance layup with a bomb from beyond the arc for a 37-20 Cluj lead. Vytenis Lipkevicius struck twice from downtown, prompting the hosts to call timeout at 37-26. After Hankins and Stipanovic traded layups, Simpson and Stephens each added a three-point play and Rubstavicius's triple drew Lietkabelis within 45-31. Simpson found his third three-point play of the night and Mokoka added a layup in transition. Kalaitzakis stepped up for Lietkabelis, Varnas added a driving layup and Maldunas's buzzer-beating jump hook fixed the halftime score at 56-38.

Pecarski buried a wild fadeaway jumper soon after the break. Hankins and Seeley stepped up for the hosts, Pecarski banked in a close shot and Simpson made it 62-43. Rubstavicius tried to change things for Lietkabelis. Salin buried a catch-and-shoot corner triple and Seeley's fastbreak layup made it 67-46. Salin fixed a broken offense with a three-pointer, Rubstavicius and Hankins traded layups and Stipanovic drew the visitors within 73-50. Stephens scored off a steal to boost Cluj's lead to 76-51 after 30 minutes.

Kovliar hit a jumper early in the fourth quarter. Maciuca answered with a driving layup that Salin erased with a baseline jumper. Kovliar struck again from downtown and soon brought Lietkabelis closer, 82-59, with over 7 minutes left. Seeley buried one from beyond the arc, as Cluj started to use longer possessions to run the game clock down. Varnas struck twice from deep and Rubstavicius added a layup-plus-foul to give Lietkabelis hope, 87-72, midway through the fourth quarter. Kalaitzakis and Rubstavicius got the visitors even closer, 92-87, with 1:15 remaining. Simpson and Mareks Mejeris sealed the outcome down the stretch.

Zavier Simpson starred with a club record 32 points for the winners

Cluj holds off Lietkabelis's comeback for 100-93 triumph

Dreamland Gran Canaria came from behind in the fourth quarter to edge Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul 74-76 on Wednesday night. The win improved Gran Canaria to 6-2 record, while Besiktas dropped to 4-4 in Group A.

Gran Canaria holds off Besiktas, 74-76

Dreamland Gran Canaria came from behind in the fourth quarter to edge Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul 74-76 on Wednesday night. The win improved Gran Canaria to 6-2 on the season, while Besiktas dropped to 4-4 in Group A.

The hosts entered the fourth quarter with a 4-point lead, but Gran Canaria used a 0-12 run to take a 61-69 lead, which it preserved down the stretch. Caleb Homesley led the winners with 17 points, Nicolas Brussino scored 13, John Shurna had 12 points and 7 rebounds, and George Conditt scored 10 in a winning effort. Jonah Mathews scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half, Derek Needham had 18 points, and Kelan Martin finished with 10 in defeat. 

Needham scored the first 8 points for Besiktas, including pair of three-pointers, but Brussino nailed a pair from outside for the visitors and a layup from Conditt capped a 0-9 run to make it 10-13. Emanuel Terry scored twice inside for the hosts, and his steal and dunk make it 18-17 but Pierre Pelos and Carlos Alocen ensured Gran Canaria held an 18-21 edge after 10 minutes.

A wide-open three-pointer from Salvo and close-range baskets from Homesley and Conditt opened a 20-28 lead, but Besiktas answered with a 0-8 run, as Berk Ugurlu and Needham each made a triple. After a Gran Canaria timeout, there were no points on either side for full 3 minutes before Brussino's layup. The visitors remained in front through Shurna. A three-pointer from Homesley helped Gran Canaria to a 33-38 halftime lead.

Layups from Mike Tobey and Andrew Albicy and a tough runner from Homesley opened 37-44, But Mathews got going with a jumper and Martin hit a corner triple to get within 45-48. Homesley scored 5 more points, including a three-point play, but Besiktas scored the last 9 points of the quarter, run during which Connor Morgan nailed a three and Needham had a three-point play, and the hosts led 57-53 after 30 minutes.

Alocen made a layup and set up Conditt's monster dunk, but Martin and Mathews kept the hosts ahead. However, Homesley's triple put Gran Canaria ahead and Brussino got some luck on a corner triple to make it 61-67. Shurna's jumper extended the margin to 8 points and after Martin's floater ended a 0-12 run, a triple from Tobey out of a timeout made it 63-72 with 1:39 to go. But Mathews scored the next 6 points and Needham's fastbreak layup made it 71-73. Pierre Pelos only split free throws, but the visitors got the offensive rebounds that helped them preserve the win.

A 0-12 run to open the fourth quarter made the difference 

Gran Canaria rallies past Besiktas, 74-76

The final set of games before a mid-season break will provide plenty of motivation for teams across the continent to triumph in Round 8 of the BKT EuroCup.

Game Center: Round 8 continues tonight!

## Wednesday, November 13

### [U-BT Cluj-Napoca 100-91 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/cluj-holds-off-lietkabeliss-comeback-100-93/)

Cluj recorded its second consecutive home win in Group B by thrashing Lietkabelis at home in Round 8 on Wednesday. Cluj improved to 4-4 in the standings while Lietkabelis dropped to 2-5. Zavier Simpson led the winners with a club record 32 points plus 5 assists and Zach Hankins added 15 points. Mantas Rubstavicius paced Lietkabelis with 25 points.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">100 points and the fourth dub for <a href="https://twitter.com/UBTCluj?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UBTCluj</a>!<br><br> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> <a href="https://t.co/dK2RdInJHo">pic.twitter.com/dK2RdInJHo</a></p>&mdash; BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1856780627149734158?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul 74-76 Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/gran-canaria-holds-off-besiktas-74-76/)

Gran Canaria came from behind in the fourth quarter to edge Besiktas. The win improved Gran Canaria to 6-2 on the season, while Besiktas dropped to 4-4 in Group A. The hosts entered the fourth quarter with a 4-point lead, but Gran Canaria used a 0-12 run to take a 61-69 lead, which it preserved down the stretch. Caleb Homesley led the winners with 17 points and John Shurna had 12 points and 7 rebounds. Jonah Mathews scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half in defeat.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">📝 El Dreamland Gran Canaria se hace grande en Estambul para certificar un trabajado triunfo (74-76).<br><br>▪ Los amarillos suman una victoria importante ante un Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul que no dio tregua en ningún momento.<br><br>👀 <a href="https://t.co/25wsZVIjk9">https://t.co/25wsZVIjk9</a> <a href="https://t.co/0Gfqm4QFp2">pic.twitter.com/0Gfqm4QFp2</a></p>&mdash; Dreamland Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GranCanariaCB/status/1856776272719888385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [ratiopharm Ulm 72-80 Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bahcesehir-comes-up-with-big-plays-to-fight-past-ulm-grab-fifth-straight-victory/)

Bahcesehir remained in sole possession of first place in Group A as it fought past Ulm on the road for a fifth straight victory. The Turkish team decided the game with bigger plays down the stretch to improve to 7-1 heading into the national team break. Sehmus Hazer paced Bahcesehir with 20 points, 5 assists and 4 steals and Mateusz Ponitka flirted with a triple-double in collecting 12 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. Ulm dropped to 4-4 with its first home loss of the season and fourth defeat in the last five games. Alfonso Plummer drained 4 three-pointers in scoring 18 points in defeat.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A win for <a href="https://twitter.com/BKBasketbol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BKBasketbol</a> to keep the Group A top spot in the standings!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> <a href="https://t.co/mcFWSvkvtP">pic.twitter.com/mcFWSvkvtP</a></p>&mdash; BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1856789596320964804?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem 86-77 Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/jerusalem-used-big-second-half-to-beat-bourg-86-77/)

Jerusalem earned a hard-fought victory over visiting Bourg at Samokov Arena on Wednesday night to improve its record to 6-2 and claim sole possession of second place in Group B. Hapoel trailed 37-41 at halftime, but outscored its opponent 21-8 in the 6 first minutes of the third period to take control of the game and never look back. Bourg, which missed top scorer Xavier Castaneda, dropped to 5-3. Gabi Chachasvili led the winners with a monster double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds for a career-high PIR of 29. Jordan Usher was the game's top-scorer with 22 points for Bourg.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">ניצחון גדול הערב בבולגריה על בורק הצרפתית, נתראה במוצש בפיס ארנה!<br>לבנו עם משפחות הנופלים מגדוד 51 של גולני, לכן נמתין מעט עם חגיגות הניצחון ונאחל לכל עם ישראל ערב שקט ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/wkTaKVp7m6">pic.twitter.com/wkTaKVp7m6</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Jerusalem BC (@JerusalemBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerusalemBasket/status/1856796806908366983?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Umana Reyer Venice 75-67 Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/umana-reyer-venice-turk-telekom-ankara/U2024/80/)

Reyer improved to 3-5 in Group B and stayed in the post-season picture afterbeating Turk Telekom, which dropped to 4-4. It was a game of two different halves as the opening period was played almost at a walking pace and produced a catalog of errors, while the contest came to life in the second thanks to improved offense from both teams. Rodney McGruder paced Reyer with 20 points and 6 boards and Mfiondu Kabengele racked up 10 points and 15 rebounds. Anthony Brown netted 18 points for Turk Telekom.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">Con un grande secondo tempo i leoni conquistano il match su Ankara 🔥<br>Avanti così leoni <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/duriibanchi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#duriibanchi</a>! <a href="https://t.co/jnPsWrZyEw">pic.twitter.com/jnPsWrZyEw</a></p>&mdash; Reyer Venezia (@REYER1872) <a href="https://twitter.com/REYER1872/status/1856809929807458319?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Joventut Badalona 78-72 Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/joventut-badalona-buducnost-voli-podgorica/U2024/73/)

Joventut snapped a four-game losing streak by beating Buducnost at home in Round 8 on Wednesday. Both teams now have 3-5 records in Group A. Devon Dotson led the winners with 26 points and Adam Hanga added 13 for Joventut. McKinley Wright and Rasheed Sulaimon paced Buducnost with 12 points apiece.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">✊ Final i victòria 🟩D’EQUIP⬛️ a <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a> <br><br>🖤💚FORÇA PENYA<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Badalona%C3%89sFutur?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BadalonaÉsFutur</a> <a href="https://t.co/HcvFjsBONC">pic.twitter.com/HcvFjsBONC</a></p>&mdash; Club Joventut Badalona (@Penya1930) <a href="https://twitter.com/Penya1930/status/1856818383502692364?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

## Tuesday, November 12

### [Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius 88-83 Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/wolves-twinsbet-vilnius-dolomiti-energia-trento/U2024/74/)

Wolves registered their fifth consecutive victory by beating visiting Trento on Tuesday night. The win improved Wolves' record to 5-3 in Group A, while Trento dropped to 3-5, remaining winless in our road games. Andrew Andrews scored 21 of his 23 points in the second half, including making 6 three-point shots. Four of his triples came in a 19-5 run bridging the third and fourth quarters, which turned a 53-59 deficit into a 72-64 lead, and the hosts never trailed again. Eigirdas Zukauskas scored 21 for Trento.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Five in a row in the <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a> ✊<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreWolves?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreWolves</a> <a href="https://t.co/Z9NTzExtj1">pic.twitter.com/Z9NTzExtj1</a></p>&mdash; BC WOLVES (@wolves_bc) <a href="https://twitter.com/wolves_bc/status/1856415242479382898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Trefl Sopot 64-93 Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/trefl-sopot-hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/U2024/71/)

Hapoel avoided a slip-up in its fight to keep pace with the top teams of Group A with a comfortable victory at winless Trefl Sopot. The visitors pulled away for the first time in earnest in the second quarter and never let Trefl challenge. That moved Hapoel to 5-3 after having lost two of its last three games. Marcus Foster led the way with 21 points and 8 rebounds while Tomer Ginat scored 14 points. Trefl continues to wait for its first victory at 0-8 despite Jakub Schenk scoring 17 points. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">הפועל מנצחת את סופוט ועולה למאזן 3:5 ביורוקאפ.<br><br>הקבוצה תמריא מחר לישראל לקראת המשחק מול חולון בשבת, פרטים על מכירת הכרטיסים יפורסמו מחר. <a href="https://t.co/MT5iQKUUXY">pic.twitter.com/MT5iQKUUXY</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Tel Aviv BC (@HapoelTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/HapoelTLVBC/status/1856426978909594064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Veolia Towers Hamburg 93-69 Aris Midea Thessaloniki](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/veolia-towers-hamburg-aris-midea-thessaloniki/U2024/78/)

Hamburg led from start to finish en route to registering its second win of the season, downing Aris. Both teams now hold 2-6 records in Group B. Hamburg had a 10-point lead already in the first quarter and extended it to 47-26 in the second. Aris never got closer than 12 points the rest of the way. Brae Ivey paced Hamburg with 15 points and Keondre Kennedy netted 14 and Kur Kuath had 6 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 blocks in the winning effort. Vassilis Toliopoulos netted 31 points on 6-for-18 three-point shooting in the loss. 

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A second win of the season for <a href="https://twitter.com/hamburgtowers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hamburgtowers</a> tonight ✔️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> <a href="https://t.co/lxb74oJaZK">pic.twitter.com/lxb74oJaZK</a></p>&mdash; BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1856438864375586817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Valencia Basket 109-80 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/valencia-basket-cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/U2024/77/)

Valencia used a strong second half to run past Cedevita in the team's first home game since the horrific floods that hit the area two weeks ago. Valencia improved to 7-0 record atop Group B, while Cedevita lost its third straight, dropping to 4-4 on the season. The key in the victory was the third quarter in which Valencia outscored Cedevita 31-10. Valencia had seven scorers in double figures, with Josep Puerto leading the way with 15 and Xabi Lopez-Arostegui adding 14. Devin Robinson netted 16 points for the visitors.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="sv" dir="ltr">💙💛❤️<br>Final en la Fonteta<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EstemAmbVosaltres?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EstemAmbVosaltres</a><br><br>🟠 <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@valenciabasket</a> 109<br>🟢 <a href="https://twitter.com/KKCedOL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KKCedOL</a> 80<br><br>🏆 J8 <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a><br>🤝 Vitaldin Sport <a href="https://t.co/8alzkvA88r">pic.twitter.com/8alzkvA88r</a></p>&mdash; Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket/status/1856447617162432885?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This is the final round before the mid-season break

Game Center: Road wins for Granca, Bahcesehir among Wednesday's 6 games

Joventut Badalona v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2024-11-13T19:30:00.000Z)

Umana Reyer Venice v Turk Telekom Ankara (2024-11-13T19:00:00.000Z)

Valencia Basket v Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2024-11-12T19:30:00.000Z)

Veolia Towers Hamburg v Aris Midea Thessaloniki (2024-11-12T18:30:00.000Z)

Trefl Sopot v Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (2024-11-12T18:00:00.000Z)

Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius v Dolomiti Energia Trento (2024-11-12T17:00:00.000Z)

Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of Round 8 of the BKT EuroCup, and who might be missing in action.

Round 8: Pre-game quotes and injury reports

## Wednesday, November 13

### U-BT Cluj-Napoca vs. 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (18:00 CET)

**Mihai Silvasan, U-BT Cluj-Napoca head coach**

"It will be a game just like any other in the EuroCup. I mean, I am sure it will be a very hard game. Even though they do not have the consistency they are looking for, we know how good they can be. We are in the same situation, we do not have the consistency we want. They are a tall team, they play an aggressive type of basketball, with educated players. Against Turk Telekom and Cedevita they played well. Some players will be missing for us, but we will fight for a victory. We want a victory in order to compete for the playoffs."

**Adam Mokoka, U-BT Cluj-Napoca guard**

"Definitely it will be a tough game. We know they can fight, having big size and energy. It will be a special feeling to see Andrija Stipanovic, but we know we cannot give them any chances. We need to win, this is our expectation."

### Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul vs. Dreamland Gran Canaria (18:00 CET)

\--

### ratiopharm Ulm vs. Bahcesehir College Istanbul (19:00 CET)

\--

### Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem vs. Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (19:00 CET)

**Yonatan Alon, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem head coach** 

"We will face a very, very tough and highly trained opponent. A team that made it to the finals last year, and it will be a good game."

**Jeremy Morgan, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem guard**

"Anytime you are playing a good team it’s gonna be a fight and it’s a big game so that’s why we just got to come ready to fight. it’s coming down to the little things, It’s gonna come down to offensive rebounds, 50-50 balls and those are the little things that we have to get on our side."

**Frederic Fauthoux, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse head coach**

"The Hapoel Jerusalem team is a serious competitor with good defense and team play. It's a new challenge that awaits us, and it's going to be a difficult game again. We will have to put in the intensity for this away game."

**Brandon Paul, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse guard**

"Tomorrow is an important game against a talented team that has a somewhat similar style of play to us, it will be a challenge for us, and we’re looking forward to continuing our sense of urgency on the road!" 

### Umana Reyer Venice vs. Turk Telekom Ankara (20:00 CET)

**Neven Spahija, Umana Reyer Venice head coach**

"Finally, we're back to playing at home after a series of very tough away games. We’re improving day by day as our players recover. Our fans will help us in this game. Turk Telekom is a very strong and well-coached team; they've strengthened with Angola and Smith, two fantastic players. They are capable of playing different styles of basketball, both offensively and defensively. They're truly a solid team."

**Jordan Parks, Umana Reyer Venice forward**

"We want to keep growing and building our identity. We came very close to two important wins on the road in our recent games. Now we have a deeper rotation and we need to be ready. We want to keep fighting and turn our season around. Our fans are very important to us, and we're happy to be back playing at home. In difficult times, with so many injuries and high expectations, our supporters are a resource that gives us courage and energy. So, we thank all the fans who always support us; we play for this jersey and for them. We want to offer fun, entertainment, and a lot of love. I hope there will be many fans at Taliercio; their energy will help us."

**Injury report, Reyer:** Xavier Munford (knee surgery) is out; Tyler Ennis (sprained knee) is a game-time decision.

### Joventut Badalona vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (20:30 CET)

\--

## Tuesday, November 12

### Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius vs. Dolomiti Energia Trento (18:00 CET)

**Alessandro Magro, Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius head coach**

"They are probably one of the best teams in Europe right now. They won against Hapoel, they won against Joventut, and they are the first with a 7-0 record in the Italian League, so they have great confidence. The Italian team with Italian coach. The coaching and the basketball style are similar to ours, so the game will be pretty interesting to watch."

**Anthony Cowan, Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius guard**

"It's definitely going to be an up-and-down game. It's a very important game for both teams. They obviously play really well in their Italian League, so it's important for us to pay attention to details and hopefully get a big home game win in front of our fans."

**Paolo Galbiati, Dolomiti Energia Trento head coach**

“On Tuesday we will face a team in great shape, masterfully coached by a top-level coach that we know very well. They are a tough and very physical team, capable of winning both through great offensive plays and through solid defense. We will have to regenerate, recharge our batteries and take the field with the right energy to play our game."

**Eigirdas Zukauskas, Dolomiti Energia Trento forward**

"The game against Wolves will be very challenging, especially on a difficult court that I know very well. They are going through a great moment of form, with six consecutive wins between league and EuroCup, including prestigious wins against Zalgiris and Gran Canaria. To compete on such a hostile ground and try to win, we will have to express our best version and give our best in every aspect of the game."

### Trefl Sopot vs. Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (19:00 CET)

**Stefanos Dedas, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv head coach**

"One more important game that we obliged to win! Sopot will be extra motivated to beat us. We have to keep our concentration for 40 minutes and play as a team."

**Noam Yaacov, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv guard**

"Our EuroCup standings are tight, so every detail in the game against Sopot will count. We’re coming in focused, ready to execute our plan and control the pace to secure the win we need."

### Veolia Towers Hamburg vs. Aris Midea Thessaloniki (19:30 CET)

**Benka Barloschky, Veolia Towers Hamburg head coach**

"Aris will defend very physically. They have a number of specialists in their squad in defense, who will certainly take on Brae and Jaizec in particular. They have a lot of experience, but at the same time they have also undergone a decisive change recently with the departure of their previous starting guard to Tel Aviv. That does something to a team: roles are redistributed once again. That makes Aris more unpredictable overall. What also makes the game a little more special is that we'll probably experience something of an away atmosphere at home."

### Valencia Basket vs. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (20:30 CET)

**Pedro Martinez, Valencia Basket head coach**

"\[Cedevita Olimpija\] is one of the teams that is doing well in our group. They have quite experienced players, some of whom I know because I coached them last year, like Geben and Robinson. But they have Blazic, who is a sensational player, who has had a very good career. We think it's going to be a tough game, in the sense that it's going to be a close game. We are not thinking that it will be an easy game. We have to try to play well, to overcome the difficulties that we are sure we are going to find, and above all, to know that they are a direct rival in our group to be in the upper zone. We have a certain advantage over them, but that advantage would be lost if they beat us tomorrow. Therefore, we have to try to consolidate the advantage we have tomorrow, as we are playing at home. I understand the mood, everything is very close. There have been some people very close to the club who have passed away. Obviously, that is not easy to bear and we cannot say that nothing is happening. Obviously, it does happen. And we also know that we have a lot of fans from the affected area who will probably not be able to come. We are going to play for everyone and try to do our job as well as possible. And the only thing I ask of the players, and it is not easy because the other day we saw that it is not easy, is that when the match starts we have to be ready for the game."

**Đorđe Adžić, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana assistant coach**

"Given our recent form and performances, and considering Valencia's quality, we certainly aren’t the favorites for Tuesday's game. Nevertheless, our aim is to give our best and represent ourselves well on the court. Valencia is built to achieve the highest goals in the EuroCup, with some players remaining from previous EuroLeague seasons, so they are well-covered in all positions. Their guards are talented, and their big men are very challenging since they can also score from long range. Their entire team averages over ten three-pointers per game in the EuroCup, and offensive rebounds are critical for them. They play aggressive defense and have players specifically for defensive roles, so we need to adjust to the aggressiveness that awaits us on Tuesday. Given that Valencia has played only one game recently, we might be slightly better in terms of energy. It's up to us to show what we can do and capitalize on their lack of recent games. I hope our team responds well to recent games, and that we look much better in the upcoming period. The situation in Valencia has definitely impacted the club, and as Chechu Mulero, the sports director, has worked here for years, it affected us too, as we saw how deeply this situation touched him. Everyone in the club sympathizes with those affected by the disaster. It's good that sports are returning, the fans will come, and we can’t wait to experience the atmosphere"

**Jaka Blažič, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana guard**

"We are expecting an extremely tough match against an excellent Valencia team. Looking at the current standings in our group, Valencia is definitely the best team, so this task won’t be easy. Our opponents have many strengths. They play excellently, especially in defense with high aggression. Offensively, they score many easy points with quick play, shoot frequently from three-point range, and are strong on offensive rebounds. We’re ready, aware of the biggest threats, and I hope we execute our game plan on Tuesday. Valencia itself is in good condition, with no visible aftermath, but we know what happened in the surrounding area. On behalf of the entire team, I offer support to everyone affected, and we hope for the best."