Aves defeated Villerban, 78-72, despite being late for most of the match, scoring eight points.
What if Efes was behind scoring for most of the match? Thanks to an 11-0 run in the last quarter, the European champions beat Villeurbanne 78-72 and reached the Euroleague’s Round of 16. At 9-8 the Turks at 6-11 now the French.
Mesic led the winners with 22 points and 5/8 on three-pointers, while Claiborne had 15 points. De Colo and Laite each scored 12 points and were Villeurbanne’s leading scorers.
Villerbin played very mentally for three and a half periods, as Di Colo, Jackson Cartwright and Laitey led the French attack and Anatolia’s defense “short circuited”.
Mičić started scoring giveaways and providing assists after the middle of the third period, bringing the difference to 11 points in favor of Villepin (45-56 in the 28th minute).
Anatolia’s defense became very pressured in the last three minutes and with a sequence of 11-0 (76-68, 65-68) and a three-point “knife” from the Serbian ace, the Turkish team reached the pink number.
Quadrants: 17-19, 29-36, 52-58, 78-72
Swing: Beaubois 13 (5/9 3 throws, 1/2 3, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals), Bryant 10 (4/4 2 throws, 3 rebounds, 2 assists), Claiborne 15 (3)/ 6 3-pointers, 0/4 3-pointers, 9/12 shooting, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals), Pleis 2, Micic 22 (3/5 3 headed, 5/8 3 headed, 1/2 shot, 3 rebounds , 2 assists), Impeg 7 (1), Polonara 2, Zizek 4, Dunston 3
Villerbahn: Polite 2, Noah 5 (1), Cahudi 4, Diot 6 (2), De Colo 12 (3/4 3-point, 0/2 3-point, 6/6 shots, 4 assists, 6 swings), Fall 10 (4/5 of 2 points, 2/2 shots, 6 rebounds), Light 12 (4/6 of 2 points, 1/5 of 3 points, 1/2 shots, 2 assists, 5 turnovers), Obasuhan 5, Jackson Cartwright 10 (2/4 treble, 2/4 treble), Bridge 6
