By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
In their last match of 2022, Partizan Mozzart Bet defeated Bayern Munich 83:77 at packed Stark Arena. It was their third win in a row, as they improved to 7-9, while the German team fell to 5-11.
Dante Exum had a great game with 19 points, but Mathias Lessort was the MVP with another double-double – 16 points and 11 rebounds for a PIR of 28.
“Very big win, the best way to finish the year. We are happy. It’s always good to win. Former team or not, you always want to compete. No hard feelings, I wish Bayern the best. There’s no better feeling than winning, and I wish for more wins in the new year“, Lessort said after the win.
Zach Leday followed with 15 points, while Yam Madar added 14.
“The main thing is to get wins. We were an unlucky couple of times. Great way to finish 2022, but we need to start 2023 with more intensity, stay together, and fight. Happy New Year to everyone“, Leday stated.
Othello Hunter had a double-double for Bayern with 16 points and 14 rebounds, as well as Augustin Rubit who scored 14 points, with 11 boards.
Ognjen Jaramaz added 14 points, Isaac Bonga 11, and Cassius Winston had 10 points for the losing side.
“I’m waiting to have a full squad at my disposal because I believe we can do much better. We fought, but we couldn’t play with quality. I’m not going to point a gun at my players for not playing better. Our three shooters were out. At this moment, against this team, this is our maximum in this gym“, Trinchieri, who couldn’t count on captain Vladimir Lucic, Andreas Obst and Niels Giffey, said after the game.
Partizan had a brilliant start with a 9-0 run, but Bayern answered strongly. After their seven straight points, it was 11-9 for the hosts midway through the first period. Obradovic‘s team didn’t panic, maintained the lead, and went to the first break with a 19-14 lead.
After a strong finish to the second quarter, Partizan achieved a double-digit surplus and ended the first half with a 41-29 lead.
With a couple of great plays from Yam Madar and Mathias Lessort, Partizan preserved a double-digit lead in the first part of the third period, but Bayern responded, and trimmed their deficit to seven points with two minutes to go until the final break.
But then, Dante Exum exploded and with eight straight points improved Partizan’s lead to 57:42. Othello Hunter gave hope back to his team with five points late in the third period, as Bayern cut the lead of the host to 59:49.
The guests remained calm and got back in the game from the free throw line, cutting the deficit to just three points (75:72), with less than three minutes on the clock. Still, Partizan remained calm, and with help from Dante Exum managed to stay in front. They controlled the rebounds in the final minutes, scored from the free-throw line, and won in the end.
“Important victory. Our opponent was the team that played very hard. We talked before the game about their offensive rebounds and the way they shoot for three. We found a way to win, played well and I congratulate my playes, but we need to move on“, Zeljko Obradovic noted at the press conference after the game.