By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Cluj-Napoca achieved a victory in the Round 11 match of Group A in the BKT EuroCup, defeating Neptunas 118-97 in front of their home fans.
Mitchell Creek delivered an outstanding performance for the home team with 40 points (10/11 for two, 4/4 for three, 8/10 free throws), Nighael Ceaser added 19 points and seven rebounds, while Daron Russell contributed with 16 points. On the other side, Rihards Lomazs was the most efficient for his team with 20 points.
Cluj played a masterful first half, scoring 68 points, making it seem like the EuroCup record (held by Gran Canaria with 125 points in a game) might be threatened. At one point, the lead was even 30 points, but Neptunas came back and approached to just minus ten at the start of the fourth quarter.
However, the home team repelled that surge, secured the win, and came close to breaking Gran Canaria’s record. Cluj now stands at 6-5, while Neptunas has five wins and six losses.
JL Bourg also recorded a big win in the most exciting match of Group B in Round 11 of the EuroCup, defeating Turk Telekom in Ankara 80-76.
William McDowell-White led the winners with 14 points and seven assists, while Ricardo Lindo added 11. For the home team, Kyle Alexander posted a double-double with 21 points and ten rebounds.
JL Bourg was ahead for most of the game; at the start of the fourth quarter, the visitors had a +13 lead (67-54), but Turk Telekom fought back. Still, they lacked the strength for a complete turnaround.
JL Bourg is currently first in Group B with a 9-2 record, while Turk Telekom has 7-4.
EuroCup results and standings
Group A
Cedevita Olimpija – Hapoel Jerusalem 81-84
U-BT Cluj-Napoca – Neptunas 118-97
Slask Wroclaw – BAXI Manresa (17/12)
Hamburg Towers – Aris Betsson (17/12)
Reyer Venice – Bahcesehir Koleji (17/12)
1. Hapoel Jerusalem 9-2
2. Bahcesehir Koleji 7-3
3. Cedevita Olimpija 7-4
4. U-BT Cluj-Napoca 6-5
5. Manresa 5-5
6. Aris 5-5
7. Neptunas 5-6
8. Venice 4-6
9. Slask 4-6
10. Hamburg 0-10
Group B
Lietkabelis – Chemnitz 79-85
Trento – Buducnost 91-90
Turk Telekom – JL Bourg 76-80
Panionios – ratiopharm Ulm (17/12)
London Lions – Besiktas (17/12)
1. JL Bourg 9-2
2. Besiktas 8-2
3. Turk Telekom 7-4
4. Buducnost 7-4
5. Trento 6-5
6. Chemnitz 5-6
7. London Lions 4-6
8. Ulm 4-6
9. Lietkabelis 2-9
10. Panionios 1-9