By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
AEK Betsson BC traveled to Poland with a goal to reach a third straight win at the opening of the season in the Basketball Champions League for the first time after the 2020/21 campaign and did just that.
Led by Chasson Randle and Justin Tillman, Joan Plaza’s squad defeated King Szczecin 77-86 on the road, to maintain perfect 3-0 record, handing the Polish side thier second loss of the campaing.
Randle finished the match as a leading scorer with 18 points and a team-high PIR of 23, while Tillman added 17 points with eight rebounds.
Ben McLemore had his best game in BCL to date with 14 points and four rebounds, while Jordan McRae added 13 points for the winning side.
For Szczecin, Tony Meier had a great opening scoring 11 points in just five minutes, but finished the game with 18 points. Zac Cuthbertson was just a rebound shy of a double-double scoring 16 points for a game-tied PIR of 23 with Randle. Andrzej Mazurcak followed them with 11 points.
The Polish team, making their debut in the BCL, didn’t back down without a fight. They even had a strong 17-10 opening, but then AEK took control with a 9-2 run to tie the score after 10 minutes. The lead changed hands multiple times until halftime, but eventually, the guests secured a 36-40 advantage before the break. The Greek team continued in the same fashion upon returning to the court, gaining a double-digit lead before the decisive period. The hosts managed to get within five points in the final moments of the match, but AEK persevered and deservedly secured the win in the end.
The Athens club is at the top of Group D with a maximum score, while Szczecin shares 1-2 record with Sassari and Ludwigsburg. In fourth round AEK will host the Polish team, while Sassari will meet the German side at home (22/11).
Postgame press conference
Photo: fiba.basketball