Cedevita Olimpija trampled Aris all over

[Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/roster/lju/?season=2024-25) took a big step toward securing a postseason berth in the BTK EuroCup with a 98-79 whitewash of [Aris Midea Thessaloniki](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/aris-thessaloniki/roster/ari/?season=2024-25), which lifted the Slovenian side to an 8-5 record in [Group B](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/standings/) of the competition.

The hosts thrived from a fast-paced offense which generated a barrage of assists and high percentages, as Cedevita made 26 of 42 shots from inside and 5 of 10 from long range, while forcing 17 turnovers from Aris at the other end.

Aris held its own early on as the visitors sank their first 5 three-pointers but missed 8 of their next 9, allowing Cedevita to pull away by halftime and stay in cruise control in the second half.

Game Videos

Among a pack of players who made an impact, [Brynton Lemar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/brynton-lemar/013261/) stood out with a game high 18 points as he shot 5 of 8 from the floor and 6 of 7 from the foul line. 

“They are a pretty good team but we fought hard and played together,” Lemar said in his postgame comments. “We knew how important this game was so we just wanted to come out and get the win,” he added.

The home team’s head coach [Zvezdan Mitrovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/lju/mitrovic-zvezdan?season=U2024) praised his men for a smooth effort.

“The players showed great energy for the full 40 minutes at both ends of the court. It’s a very important win for our bid to reach the playoffs as we controlled the game throughout, except for early in the second half, said Mitrovic. “We were able to pull away by making some shots from deep, while long-range shooting kept Aris in the game early on.

“This was one of our more notable performances of the season and I am really happy for the players. We now face some tough road games and hopefully the physios can keep the team in shape for the upcoming challenges.”

Game News

Aris head coach [Ioannis Kastritis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/aris-midea-thessaloniki/ari/kastritis-ioannis?season=U2024) pointed out that his team was undone by a cartload of fouls committed, which made it difficult for the visitors to play stronger defense.

“After the first half, we were in foul trouble so we couldn’t be more aggressive,” he said. “Cedevita was very physical and congratulations to them for the victory. We tried to do a better job but Cedevita is a really good team and very well coached.”

In [Round 15](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/?round=15&season=U2024), Cedevita [visits Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/hapoel-bank-yahav-jerusalem-cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/U2024/146/) while Aris, which slipped to 3-11 in what has so far been a poor season for the Greek outfit, is [at home to Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/aris-midea-thessaloniki-cosea-jl-bourg-en-bresse/U2024/147/).

The home side was head and shoulders above its Greek rival at both ends of the court

Cedevita Olimpija trampled all over Aris 

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Aris Midea Thessaloniki (2025-01-08T17:45:00.000Z)

Umana Reyer Venice continued its surge upwards in the standings in Group B with a 77-90 victory at Veolia Towers Hamburg

Reyer downs feisty Hamburg 77-90 to remain in top form 

Umana Reyer Venice continued its surge upwards in the standings in Group B with a 77-90 victory at Veolia Towers Hamburg. Reyer was cruising and built a 25-point lead early in the second half before Hamburg trimmed the gap to 9 points in the fourth quarter. But the visitors never gave up control and collected their sixth win in the last seven games for an 8-6 record.

Jordan Parks paced Reyer with 19 points and 7 rebounds, Kyle Wiltjer had 16 points and Mfiondu Kabengele added 11 points and 9 rebounds. Jordan Barnett and Brae Ivey both scored 16 points for Hamburg, which fell to 3-11 after having won three of its last four home games. With the loss, Hamburg has been eliminated from playoff contention.

Wiltjer scored 5 quick points for a 4-7 cushion for the visitors. Triples from Ivey and Osaro Rich had Hamburg up 10-9. The hosts’ offense dried up for 4 minutes and Wiltjer added a second triple in a 0-9 Reyer run for a 10-18 lead. Hamburg netted 5 points but then watched Reyer run off a 0-12 surge to go up 15-30 and the gap was 17-30 after 10 minutes. 

Alessandro Lever started the second quarter with a triple for the visitors and the advantage grew to 17 points. Ivey tried to keep Hamburg within striking distance with 10 points but Davide Casarin’s three-pointer at the shot-clock buzzer made it 29-48. Wiltjer added another basket to extend the margin to 20 points and it was 36-57 at the break. 

Parks twice made triples in the first half of the third quarter as Reyer’s cushion pushed out to 25 points. Hamburg was not ready to just roll over and mounted a 17-3 charge with Barnett draining 3 three-pointers to close within 63-74. The score was 65-76 after 30 minutes.

A Barnett dunk to start the final frame got the game into single digits and Hamburg three more times had the margin down to 9 points at 73-82 as Reyer could not put it away. Tyler Ennis drained a massive three-pointer to make it 73-87 with just more than 2 minutes to play and that proved to be the backbreaker.

The Italian side allowed Hamburg back into the game but never lost control 

Veolia Towers Hamburg v Umana Reyer Venice (2025-01-08T18:30:00.000Z)

Jared Harper and Khadeen Carrington delivered on the court for Hapoel Jerusalem BC at U-BT Cluj-Napoca. The two guards combined for almost half (44) of their team’s points, inspiring Jerusalem to a statement 79-91 win.

Jerusalem's Jared Harper, Khadeen Carrington proved Too Hard to Handle for Cluj

Despite coming back from 15 points down to [beat Aris Midea Thessaloniki](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/jerusalem-fights-back-to-down-aris-90-85-and-snap-skid/) at home last week, head coach [Yonatan Alon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-bank-yahav-jerusalem/jer/alon-yonatan/?season=U2024) was anything but satisfied with the performance of the [Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/hapoel-jerusalem/roster/jer/?season=2024-25) players. Alon warned them that such a display could “[never happen again](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/jerusalems-coach-alon-warned-his-team-this-can-never-happen-again/)” and urged them to “learn from this”.

[Jared Harper](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jared-harper/011970/) and [Khadeen Carrington](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/khadeen-carrington/008912/) were the first to receive the message, both delivering on the court at [U-BT Cluj-Napoca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/u-bt-cluj-napoca/roster/clu/?season=2024-25). The two guards combined for almost half (44) of their team’s points, inspiring Jerusalem to [a statement 79-91 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/jerusalem-powers-past-cluj-79-91/). Coming into Wednesday evening’s duel, the Israeli side had lost three of their previous four games, with their only victory in that stretch being the aforementioned win against Aris that failed to convince Alon.

Khadeen Carrington scored a career-high 23 for Hapoel Jerusalem against Cluj-Napoca

Khadeen Carrington scored a career-high 23 against Cluj

Jerusalem’s response came with one of their most solid defensive quarters of the season, holding the the team that entered Round 14 as the BKT EuroCup’s [second-best offense](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/stats/key-stats-teams/?size=1000&misc=&seasonCode=U2024&category=Score&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&aggregate=perGame) (89.3 ppg.) to just 9 points in the first 10 minutes. Meanwhile, Carrington had taken over on the other side of the floor to lay the foundation for a career night. The Jerusalem guard hit the ground running and scored 10 of his team’s 17 points in the first quarter. He finished the game with a career-high 23 points, including a dagger from beyond the arc to make it 74-87 and seal it in crunch time.

In the meantime, Harper was producing one of his most complete outings this season. The league’s top scorer registered 21 points, 7 assists and a career-high 6 rebounds for a PIR of 26. Unsurprisingly, Harper stepped up big time in the last 7 minutes, where he had 6 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists to lead Jerusalem to a hard-fought victory.

More importantly, the visitors received a much-needed boost in morale ahead of a tough final stretch of the 2024/25 campaign. 

“\[This win means\] a lot,” Alon said after the game. “The situation for our team right now \[is that\] we are a little bit hurt like a wounded animal. And we needed \[the win\] for us. We needed to know that still with the players we’ve got here, we can do great things.”

Having proved a point to themselves, Jerusalem also managed to claim the potential head-to-head tiebreak advantage over Cluj, taking a massive step in the race for a top-two spot in Group B. Next up comes a home clash against fellow playoff contenders [Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/roster/lju/?season=2024-25), which will be called to contain the red-hot guard duo of Harper and Carrington if they want to have a chance against Jerusalem.

The two Jerusalem guards combined for almost half of their team’s points in the road win

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (2025-01-08T17:00:00.000Z)

Coach Dani Miret's team dominated from start to finish 


Joventut thrashes Besiktas, 93-70! 

Joventut Badalona returned to winning ways in Group A by thrashing Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul 93-70 at home in Round 14 on Wednesday. Joventut improved to 5-9 in the standings and earned the potential head-to-head tie-break advantage against Besiktas, which dropped to 7-7. 

Kassius Robertson paced the winners with 17 points. Devon Dotson added 16, Artem Pustovyi had 12 while Adam Hanga got 11 for Joventut. Jonah Mathews led Besiktas with 18 points.

Yannick Kraag got Joventut going with a layup and Pustovyi added a jump hook for a 4-1 lead. Dotson took over with a follow-up layup before Hanga struck twice from beyond the arc to cap a 12-1 opening run. Kyle Allman rescued Besiktas with a jumper and Conor Morgan added a triple to bring the visitors within 12-6. Dotson buried a close jumper and Robertson followed a driving layup with a bomb from downtown to boost Joventut's lead to 19-8. Yigit Arslan hit a triple and Robertson insisted from beyond the arc to fix the score at 22-11 after 10 minutes. 

Berk Ugurlu joined the three-point shootout early in the second quarter. Pustovyi followed a five-meter jumper with a reverse layup to keep Joventut out of trouble, 26-14. After Dustin Sleva found his first points, Kaiser Gates answered with a backdoor layup. Robertson scored again to make it 30-16. Mathews downed a floater, then Ante Tomic sent a wild behind-the-back assist to Gates for a layup. Pau Ribas improved on Sleva's dunk with a triple. Mathews buried a long two-pointer and Tomic set a 38-22 Joventut lead. Hanga hit a jump hook, Ribas insisted from downtown and Dotson's driving layup broke the game open, 46-24. Derek Needham and Dotson traded three-pointers for a 49-27 score at the break.  

 

Uros Plavsic and Mathews brought the visitors within 50-31 soon after the break. Pustovyi stepped up for Joventut and Hanga's tip-in restored a 22-point Joventut lead. Sleva made free throws, Plavsic sank a jump hook and Arslan's turnaround jumper caused the hosts to call timeout at 54-38. Miye Oni buried a three-pointer and Tomic found space for a wide-open layup that forced Besiktas to stop the game at 59-38. Emanuel Terry scored in the paint and Mathews matched Kraag's dunk with a jumper. Allman and Mathews soon gave Besiktas hope at 61-46. Kraag scored again, Arslan answered with a tip-in and Robertson's fallaway jumper gave the hosts a 68-48 margin. Kelan Martin bettered Kraag's dunk with a triple that got Besiktas within 71-51 after 30 minutes.

Allman struck from downtown early in the fourth quarter and Derek Needham added a driving layup for a 73-56 score. Dotson took over with a three-point play that Martin erased with a corner triple. Ribas downed his third three-pointer and Pustovyi added a layup in transition that all but sealed the outcome, 81-59, with over 6 minutes left. Pustovyi and Dotson kept pacing Joventut and by the time Gates buried a three-pointer, everything was said and done. Joventut had plenty of time to celebrate its first EuroCup win in 2025, while improving its playoff chances in the process. 

Joventut thrashes Besiktas, 93-70

Joventut Badalona v Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul (2025-01-08T18:30:00.000Z)

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana stayed on track for a postseason berth in the BTK EuroCup after improving its Group B record to 8-5 with a comfortable 98-79 home win over Aris Midea Thessaloniki, which dropped to 3-11 following another lackluster display.

Cedevita Olimpija breezes past Aris, 98-79

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana stayed on track for a postseason berth in the BTK EuroCup after improving its Group B record to 8-5 with a comfortable 98-79 home win over Aris Midea Thessaloniki, which dropped to 3-11 following another lackluster display.

A balanced workload on offense saw five home players finish in double figures in points with Brynton Lemar pacing Cedevita with 18. Devante Jones chipped in with 14 while DJ Stewart, Devin Robinson and Jaka Blazic added 13 each for the hosts, who dished out a team total of 21 assists and forced 17 turnovers from Aris.

At the other end, Sharife Cooper paced Aris with 17 points and Darral Willis posted 10 for the visitors, who never looked like getting anything from this game despite hitting their first 5 shots from downtown.

Aris only made 1 of their next 9 and Olimpija romped away into a 50-35 halftime lead as the Slovenian outfit dominated all over, showing lethal efficiency with a barrage of dunks while forcing 10 turnovers from Aris at the other end of the floor in the first half.

The visiting team showed signs of recovery early in the third quarter when it slashed the deficit with a 0-7 run, but Cedevita moved up a gear instantly and pulled away to 71-57 ahead of the final 10 minutes.

Aris fought hard to stay in touch, closing the gap to 82-69 midway through the fourth, but an 8-1 run from Cedevita left the home team firmly in the driving seat in the closing stages. The Greek side simply had no reply for Cedevita’s high-tempo offense, with the hosts generating an array of fast breaks as they also benefited from a smart shot selection. Cedevita sank 5 of 10 from deep and 26 of 42 from inside, while its victory might have been even more emphatic but for modest free throw shooting, 31 of 46.  

The home team led from start to finish in a lop-sided contest 

Trefl Sopot registered its first win of the season, and has done it in style, going on the road and thrashing Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius 74-97 on Wednesday night. The win improved already eliminated Trefl to 1-13 record in Group A, while Wolves dropped to 7-7 record.

Winless no more, Trefl shock Wolves, 74-97

Trefl Sopot registered its first win of the season, and it did so in style, going on the road and thrashing Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius 74-97 on Wednesday night. The win improved already eliminated Trefl's record to 1-13 in Group A, while Wolves dropped to 7-7.

Trefl never trailed after the first quarter, but pulled away with a 1-16 run in the third quarter and never looked back. Jaroslaw Zyskowski had 20 points and 9 rebounds in the win. Darious Moten scored 19 points, Nick Johnson collected 16 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds, while Geoffrey Groselle had 13 points and 7 rebounds in Trefl’s maiden win. Anthony Cowan had 17 points and 8 assists, Marek Blazevic posted 14 points and 8 rebounds, while Tre’Shawn Thurman scored 11 in the loss.

Johnson made a three-point play and Zyskowski a triple to start things off for the visitors, but Wolves scored the next 8 points with Thurman and Cowan each knocking down a three-pointer. Cowan’s next three helped open a 15-11 margin, but Moten netted a triple and Groselle scored twice from close range for the visitors who went in front with a pair of baskets from Mikolaj Witlinski and a triple from Nahiem Alleyne to lead 25-29 after 10 minutes.

Alleyne’s second triple made it 27-32 early in the second, but Andrews had a three-point play and Brooks a big dunk to cut it to 32-34. Groselle and Johnson extended the margin, and with a help from Witlinski the lead grew to 35-44. But Andrews and Cowan hit back-to-back triples, and another three from Cowan cut the deficit to 44-46. Aaron Best made a second-chance layup, before trading triples with Thurman, as the visitors held on to a 51-53 halftime lead.

Blazevic scored inside to tie the game on the opening possession of the third quarter, but that was also the only field goal the hosts managed in the third quarter. Witlinski scored inside and Zyskowski had a three-point play to restore Trefl’s lead, then a put-back dunk from Groselle started a 1-16 run that saw Groselle score twice more, including another put-back dunk. Zyskowski netted a triple to make it 57-67, while Jakub Schenk’s three-pointer and Moten’s layup opened a 17-point margin and the visitors led 59-76 heading into the fourth quarter.

Schenk extended the margin to 19 points, before Blazevic ended Wolves’ field goal drought that lasted for more than 10 minutes. Andrews banked a jumper that cut it to 63-78, but a transition triple from Zyskowski restored a 19-point margin with 6:40 to go. Another three from the same player helped the visitors to set a 67-87 advantage with just over 4 minutes left to play and then Johnson's jumper and Moten’s fastbreak layup made it 69-93, sealing the outcome.

There are no more winless teams in the EuroCup

Winless no more, Trefl shocks Wolves, 74-97

Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius v Trefl Sopot (2025-01-08T17:00:00.000Z)

It took 45 minutes of basketball action before Bahcesehir College Istanbul was able to beat Buducnost VOLI Podgorica 94-93 in Round 14 and it could not have done so without some clutch play from Tyler Cavanaugh. 

Tyler Cavanaugh played key role in Bahcesehir's overtime win 

It took 45 minutes of basketball action before [Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/roster/bah/?season=2024-25) was able to beat [Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/roster/bud/?season=2024-25) [95-93 in Round 14](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bahcesehir-edges-buducnost-in-ot-95-93/) and it could not have done so without some clutch play from [Tyler Cavanaugh](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tyler-cavanaugh/009601/).

Buducnost led for the better part of the second half and held a 68-70 margin midway through the fourth quarter. In need of a go-to guy, Cavanaugh stepped up, hitting a pair of three-pointers and a technical free throw in a 9-0 run that seemed to put Bahcesehir on the right track to win the game.

Far from done, Buducnost fought back and forced overtime in spectacular fashion, on a buzzer-beating jumper by [Dordije Jovanovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/dordije-jovanovic/010307/). The visitors took an 87-88 lead in the next-to-last minute and that's when Cavanaugh rescued Bahcesehir again, burying the go-ahead triple and grabbing a key offensive rebound in a four-chance offense that allowed [Axel Bouteille](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/axel-bouteille/003840/) to give his team a 92-88 edge.

Tyler Cavanaugh of Bahcesehir College Istanbul had a season-high 18 points against Buducnost VOLI Podgorica

Cavanaugh makes things happen against Buducnost

Cavanaugh finished the game with a career-best 17 points on 4-of-5 three-point shooting and 6 rebounds for a PIR of 20. He has played the role of a silent leader all season long, amassing three double-doubles and averaging 11.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and a PIR of 17.8 in the last five games.

He was not alone, of course, as Bahcesehir had a true all-around performance. [Tai Odiase](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tai-odiase/011823/) posted a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds, Bouteille had a season-high 23 points and [Jaleen Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jaleen-smith/011192/) narrowly missed a double-double with 19 points and 9 assists for a career-best PIR of 32. Smith and [Sehmus Hazer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/sehmus-hazer/011201/) combined for 16 assists and just 5 turnovers.

Bahcesehir grabbed 3 of its 10 offensive rebounds on that key play and ended up outrebounding Buducnost by 37-34. The hosts dominated all of the hustle stats, finishing the game with 8 steals and 3 blocks. Buducnost was limited to just 4 steals and a block. Cavanaugh contributed the most to Bahcesehir's excellent three-point shooting percentage (12 of 23, 52.2% 3FG). Buducnost made only 10 of 29 shots from beyond the arc (34.5% 3FG).

It could have gone either way but Cavanaugh made sure Bahecsehir grabbed an important home victory. 

The sweet-shooting forward stepped up every time his team needed him

Bahcesehir College Istanbul v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2025-01-08T16:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem came out victorious from a crucial battle for a top-two finish by beating U-BT Cluj-Napoca 79-91 on Wednesday in Round 14 of the BKT EuroCup

Jerusalem powers past Cluj, 79-91

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem came out victorious from a crucial battle for a top-two finish by beating U-BT Cluj-Napoca 79-91 on Wednesday evening. Jared Harper and Khadeen Carrington combined for 44 points to snap Cluj’s five-game winning streak at Bt-Arena. With this win, Jerusalem improved its record to 9-5 and claimed the head-to-head advantage against Cluj which dropped to 7-7.

Carrington paced Jerusalem with a career-high 23 points, while Harper finished the game with 21 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds. Justin Smith netted 13 points, Jeremy Morgan had 11 and Yovel Zoosman added 10. For Cluj, D.J. Seeley scored a game-high 27 points, Zavier Simpson recorded 17 and De'Shawn Stephens tallied 11.

Seeley got Cluj going with 5 points and Simpson opened his account from the line for a 7-2 lead. Harper made 3 from the charity stripe, with Carrington netting only the third field goal of the game 7 minutes into the first quarter for a 7-8 Jerusalem edge. Then, Carrington added 7 points to his tally and Gabriel Chachashvili dunked in transition to open a 9-17 lead after 10 minutes.

Smith and Stephens traded buckets to open the second quarter before Seeley drained back-to-back triples that slashed the deficit to 17-19. Stephens completed a three-point play to extend Cluj’s run to 11-0, putting his team in front, 20-19. Buckets from Seeley and Tudor Somacescu were followed by a triple from Gediminas Orelik, with the hosts maintaining a 27-23 lead. Then, Adam Mokoka and Orelik gave Cluj a 33-25 cushion. Five points from Morgan and a Carrington layup cut the difference to 35-32. Simpson netted his first field goal of the game, but Harper nailed his first triple to bring Jerusalem within 37-35 at the break.

Harper nailed a layup, but Cluj made the most of an unsportsmanlike foul from Tarik Phillip, with Seeley sinking his fourth three-pointer for a 42-37 lead. Back-to-back buckets from Zoosman were followed by a Smith put-back basket to put Jerusalem back ahead, 42-43. But Seeley drilled another one from deep and Stephens netted inside to make it 47-44. Morgan and Orelik traded triples before a hard-fought bucket by Derek Ogbeide and a Zoosman basket off the glass gave Jerusalem a 54-55 edge. Then, Morgan sank a triple and Harper nailed a jumper that allowed the visitors to maintain a 59-61 lead heading into the closing quarter.

Mareks Mejeris opened the fourth with a floater, but Chris Johnson scored a put-back bucket and Carrington completed a three-point play to open a 61-66 lead. Buckets from Simpson and Zach Hankins sandwiched a triple by Carrington before Harper scored twice inside to set a 67-73 cushion. Simpson made 3 of 4 from the line, but Chachashvili responded with a three-point play and Smith netted in the paint for a 70-78 lead. Six points from Smith and a three from Carrington opened a 76-89 lead to seal the victory for the visitors.

The visitors grabbed an important victory in the battle for a top-two spot

Tai Odiase, Tyler Cavanaugh and Axel Bouteille made the difference down the stretch

Bahcesehir edges Buducnost in OT, 95-93!

Bahcesehir College Istanbul outlasted Buducnost VOLI Podgorica 95-93 in an overtime thriller at Sinan Erdem Sports Hall on Wednesday night. With the win, Bahcesehir's third in a row, it improved to 12-2 to remain atop Group A. Buducnost dropped to 6-8 and saw its own three-game winning streak come to an end.

Axel Bouteille led the winners with 23 points and 9 rebounds. Jaleen Smith added 19 points and 9 assists, Tyler Cavanaugh scored 18, Tai Odiase posted 16 points and 10 rebounds and Sehmus Hazer tallied 11 points for Bahcesehir. Yogi Ferrell paced Buducnost with 16 points. Juwan Morgan and McKinley Wright each added 14, Kenan Kamenjas 12 and Fletcher Magee 11.

Hazer got Bahcesehir going with a four-meter jumper. Ferrell improved on that with a three-pointer before Cavanaugh helped the hosts regain a 5-3 lead. After Morgan scored down low, Bouteille struck from downtown and Smith's three-point play boosted Bahcesehir's lead to 11-5. Smith bettered Ferrell's layup with a triple. Kamenjas scored in the low post and Rasheed Sulaimon's jumper brought the visitors within 15-11. Morgan struck from beyond the arc and soon added a dunk that capped a 1-11 run, prompting Bahcesehir to call timeout at 15-18. Odiase stepped up for the hosts, but then Magee joined the three-point shootout to fix the score at 17-21 after 10 minutes. 

Wright made a mid-range jumper early in the second quarter. Hazer answered with a driving layup and Bouteille added a three-point play that caused Buducnost to call timeout at 22-23. Alen Omic scored in the paint and Djordje Jovanovic buried a corner triple to give Buducnost fresh air at 22-28. Omic kept pushing Buducnost with a layup and a tip-in, but Smith and Odiase kept Bahcesehir within 30-32. Smith and Kamenjas traded layups before Sulaimon's three-pointer boosted the visitors' lead to 32-39. Bouteille answered from downtown and Odiase erased Ferrell's jumper with a layup to bring Bahcesehir within 37-41 at halftime.

Ferrell sank a mid-range jumper right after the break. Kamenjas added a driving layup for a 37-45 Buducnost lead. Odiase buried a jump hook and Cavanaugh struck from beyond the arc in a 7-0 run that Bouteille capped with a jumper. Sulaimon buried a six-meter shot and Kamenjas added a put-back layup, but Bouteille hit back-to-back triples to put Bahcesehir ahead, 50-49. Ferrell found Anrdija Slavkovic for a layup and added a three-pointer to restore a 50-54 Buducnost lead. Kamenjas made a shot over the backboard, but Marko Simonovic and Smith kept the hosts within 55-56. After Wright downed a jumper, Odiase sank free throws. Furkan Korkmaz's buzzer-beating triple put Buducnost ahead, 61-58, through three quarters.

Simonovic stepped up with a put-back layup early in the fourth quarter. Magee struck twice from beyond the arc to give Buducnost a 63-64 lead with 8 minutes left. After Tanaskovic dropped in a jump hook, Smith scored off a steal. Odiase's fastbreak basket caused the visitors to call timeout at 68-66. Magee scored again and Kamenjas's backdoor layup put Buducnost back ahead, 69-70. Hazer scored off the baseline and Cavanaugh struck twice from downtown in a 9-0 run that gave the hosts a 77-70 lead. Ferrell sank a jumper and Wright struck from beyond the arc to make it 77-75 with 2:28 remaining. After Wright made a one-handed jumper in the lane, Smith sank free throws. Morgan's three-pointer gave Buducnost a 79-80 lead with 29.3 seconds left. Smith answered from downtown and Javonovic's buzzer-beating jumper sent the game to overtime at 82-82.

Bouteille hit a three-pointer early in the extra period. After Morgan made free throws, Hazer scored in penetration. Wright followed a put-back basket with a jumper for an 87-88 Buducnost lead with 1:25 remaining. Cavanaugh rescued Bahcesehir with a bomb from downtown and Odiase finished a four-chance offense with free throws that seemed to seal the outcome, 92-88, with 12.1 seconds left. But after Sulaimon made free throws, Hazer, Wright and Cavanaugh each split attempts and instead of trying a three-point shot, Ferrell went for a driving layup for a 94-93 score with 2.2 seconds left. Hazer drew a foul and Sulaimon's 25-meter attempt on the buzzer was off the mark.