The league-leaders erased a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit
Fenerbahce pulls out 82-86 win in Bologna
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul erased a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter to sting Virtus Segafredo Bologna 82-86 at Unipol Arena in Bologna for the team’s sixth straight win. Fenerbahce remained in first place and improved to 9-2 on the season, while Virtus lost its third in a row to fall to 2-9. The visitors finished the game on a 5-13 run.
Marko Guduric scored 9 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter to lead Fenerbahce and Nigel Hayes-Davis netted 10 of his 19 in the final stanza, including the go-ahead triple. Bonzie Colson added 18 points and, like Hayes-Davis, collected 8 rebounds. Tarik Biberovic contributed 11. Virtus’s Toko Shengelia scored a game-high 23 points in defeat. Ante Zizic netted 18 points, Matt Morgan 14 and Isaia Cordinier 10.
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Zizic thumped home a dunk to open the scoring before Colson got Fenerbahce on the scoreboard. The visitors feasted on the offensive glass with their first three baskets coming on second chances, including a Biberovic triple to make it 5-7. Shengelia heated up for the hosts and Zizic’s put back and free throws put Virtus ahead, 14-10, midway through the opening quarter. Hayes-Davis and Colson nailed threes in a 0-8 push as Fenerbahce pulled back in front. Zizic drew the hosts within1 before Guduric and Morgan traded threes to end the quarter at 22-23.
Morgan tied it early in the second quarter and Achille Polonara’s put-back gave the hosts a 29-27 edge. The game became more physical with Khem Birch playing a big role for the visitors. Points were few and far between before Colson netted a three to make it 31-32. Shengelia continued to wreak havoc as he banked in a basket. After a jumper by Biberovic, Will Clyburn scored to give Virtus a 38-37 halftime edge.
Zizic remained a force for Virtus as he tossed in a hook shot and later drew Sertac Sanli’s third foul and added a free throw, but Hayes-Davis’s third three of the night nosed Fenerbahce back on front. Zizic scored twice more to the delight of the crowd. A three-pointer by Shengelia and free throws by Zizic made it 50-44. Nicolo Melli and Birch were both called for unsportsmanlike fouls within a minute and a half of each other and Morgan capitalized with a three-pointer to establish the game’s first double-digit lead, 58-48. Colson and Guduric combined to score the next 6 points only to see Shengelia answer with a three-point play. Birch dunked to end the third quarter with Virtus ahead 61-56.
Biberovic and Morgan traded threes before Clyburn and Shengelia restored a double-digit margin. Virtus seemed to have an answer for every Fenerbahce score. Hayes-Davis drilled a three after a timeout to get within 75-69. Guduric twice got Fenerbahce within 4. And Biberovic tied it at 77-77 with 3 free throws with 2:18 remaining. Cordinier, who had been called for a technical foul and the foul on Biberovic, answered with a clutch triple. After a layup by Cordinier was knocked off the rim by Birch, Guduric came through with a three to give Fenerbahce an 80-81 lead with 29.4 seconds remaining. Morgan iced free throws at the other end to give Virtus the lead only to see Hayes-Davis sink a three over the outstretched arms of Shengelia. Alessandro Pajola missed the potential game-winner from the corner and Hayes-Davis grabbed the rebound and wrapped up the win from the foul line.