By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Ekpe Udoh scored 16 points, grabbed 7 rebounds (both team-highs) and tied his assists career-high with 5 as Fenerbahce defeated Zalgiris 67 – 76 in Kaunas for the 24th round of the EuroLeague regular season.
The Turkish team overcame its problems with the injuries of Jan Vesely and Kostas Sloukas, to improve its record to 16 – 8 and remain fourth in the standings.
The 15 points and 7 rebounds by Paulius Jankunas, Kevin Pangos’ 11 points (all in the fourth quarter) plus 4 assists weren’t enough for Zalgiris that fell to 10 – 14 but still has a fighting chance for the playoffs at the eighth spot of the classification.
Fenerbahce received much help by Melih Mahmutoglu who emerged in the third quarter with 4/4 from downtown and 14 points in total, plus Bobby Dixon who flirted with the double-double after 12 points and 9 assists, serving as a facilitator in light of Sloukas‘ absence.
It was Melih’s eruption that helped his team easily recover from a sloppy first half (31 – 30 for Zalgiris) and reach the fourth period ahead 48 – 55. Pangos was the one to respond for the hosts that once again got the lead 56 – 55. This, however was the last time they were ahead.
Fener took advantage of its opponents’ poor shooting, especially from the perimeter and struck quickly on the other end for a 2 – 13 partial score that made it 58 – 68 with four minutes to go. As long as Zalgiris remained unable to threaten from afar, it kept being harmless and coach Obradovic‘s players serious enough not to lose their advantage.