By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Telekom Baskets Bonn survived Rytas Vilnius’ comeback in the second half and escape from Lithuania with an important 86-79 on-the-road win.
TJ Shorts was forced to 5/20 from the field by the red-and-white defense but produced his first BCL double-double of the season with 13 points and 12 assists. Tyson Ward was the highest scorer for his team, ending with 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Collin Malcolm, who has scored a total of 58 points in his previous three BCL games after scoring only 15 points in his first four games combined, had 9 in the away win in Lithuania. Finn Delany added 9 points and 11 rebounds, while Karsten Tadda scored the decisive two free throws lately and ended with 14.
Rytas Vilnius produced a 40-32 run in the second half with five players in double-digits, but it wasn’t enough for Giedrius Žibėnas’ squad.
Marcus Foster, who is one of the two players to have scored 30+ points in multiple games this season alongside Maurice Kemp, ended the game with 14 points. His partner Elvar Fridriksson scored 12.
Martynas Echodas went close to a double-double with 15 points and 8 rebounds, while Margiris Normantas had 17 points with 5 assists and 4/6 from beyond the arc. They both came off the bench.
Tuomas Iisalo’s team is now the first German club with 8 straight wins in BCL history after that Brose Bamberg stopped at 7 between February 2020 and January 2021. After 5 home victories, Rytas Vilnius’ winning streak at the Rytas Arena got interrupted.
Waiting for the other encounter in Group J between Bahcesehir and BAXI Manresa to be rescheduled, with this away victory Telekom Baskets Bonn remains on top with three wins in a row. Rytas Vilnius has now a negative record in the Round of 16 with 1-2.
PHOTO CREDIT: Basketball Champions League