By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Last year’s runner-up got the third win in a row in the 2022-23 Basketball Champions League, as BAXI Manresa easily beat the newcomer SL Benfica 97-78.
Despite coming off the bench, Brancou Badio had the best performance of his team, ending the game with 22 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, and a crazy buzzer-beater at the end of the first quarter.
Jerrick Harding, who has now scored more than 10 points in each of his last 12 games in the BCL, had 17 points, and Marcus Lee contributed with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds. Juampi Vaulet had another great night, scoring 19.
After being decisive in the first two BCL victories of Benfica, Ivan Almeida showed up once again by scoring 18 points, with 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
In his third game against Spanish teams in the competition, Aaron Broussard ended the game with 13 points. James Ellisor was a surprising factor off the bench, adding 15 in his team’s loss.
BAXI Manresa has now won seven of their last nine away games in the BCL after losing five of the previous seven, going up 3-0 in Group F. Benfica still managed to keep the second position with a 2-1 record, but VEF Riga comes close after beating Limoges CSP earlier in the day.
PHOTO CREDIT: Basketball Champions League