By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
If you look at the final score of the 62-59 win of Fenerbahce over Dogus Darussafaka you would think that it was a close game. Still this was not the case in the first game of the Zadar tournament.
Fenerbahce led for most of the game with 10 or more points and the best Dogus did was cut the final points difference to three. With Fenerbahce still missing the non Turkish players who competed in Eurobasket, the front line duo of Ekpe Udoh (16 p., 10 r.) and Pero Antic (10 p., 13 r.) made all the difference. Bobby Dixon added 14 points from the bench.
For Dogus also a front line duo, Luke Harangody (12 p., 7 r.) and Semih Erden (10 p.) registered the best numbers in a sloppy game for both sides. The two teams had a total of 8 assists and also a total of 34 turnovers.
The score was tied after the first five minutes (7-7), Darussafaka took control and the lead (17-13), but in the first quarter after some key shots of Antic from the outside ended with Fenerbahce trailing by one (18-17). Perimeter shooting was also the story of the second quarter, as Baris Hersek and Bobby Dixon helped their team get for the first time a double digits lead (34-24) and close the first half with a 36-29 advantage.
The defensive pressure on Jamon Gordon and Ekpe Udoh offensive streak gave to Fenerbahce a 43-31 lead, Darussafaka answered with a 9-0 run, but Dixon was there. He led the way to a 7-0 run and a 50-40 score at the end of the third. Darussafaka had one last try for a come back, but couldn’t get close than three. Ender Arslan missed a three pointer from half court and Fenerbahce won the game.