By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Partizan have found a way to stay in the race for the postseason and Virtus couldn’t stop the Serbs.
The guests got the 81-71 win in Bologna by making things happen on both ends of the floor and proving their quality in front of their fans, who once again traveled to support their team.
Sterling Brown with 20 points, Carlik Jones with 19, and Tyrique Jones with a double-double (12 p. 12 r.) were the pillar of the road triumph which gave Partizan a 13-12 record and a tie with Real Madrid and Milan between the 9th and the 11th position.
“It was a much-needed win for us”, admitted Carlik Jones after the final buzzer, adding: “I just want to do whatever I can just to take a win”.
Virtus dropped at 7-17 and has only mathematical chances for the postseason.
Toko Shengelia, with 16 points, and Isaiah Cordinier, with 13, tried their best for the home team. Former NBA champion Justin Holiday made his EuroLeague debut with Virtus and went scoreless in 10 minutes of action.
Getting it done via defense
Virtus opened the game leading 23-17 in the first quarter, but Partizan quickly turned the tables, getting the 27-26 lead after a 10-3 run and closing the first half leading 44-36 while keeping the hosts to 13 points in the second period.
Shengelia already did his duty for Virtus with 11 points, however on the other side Brown had 15, leading the charge for the guests.
Partizan made it a 10-point game (46-36) with Tyrique Jones scoring the first basket of the second half and then to 14 (54-40) after a shot by Carlik Jones.
At the end of the period, the guests had a nine-point advantage (66-57), and with four unanswered points, Virtus made it a five-point game (66-61) to start the fourth quarter.
The game turned into a dogfight, and with three minutes left, Virtus trimmed the lead to four (75-71), but that was the best they could do. Partizan didn’t let Virtus score again until the end and secured the win.
Photo credit: Turkish Airlines EuroLeague