By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Trailing by nine points, Galatasaray Ekmas confidently bounced back for the first win in the 2023-24 edition of the Basketball Champions League.
The Lions defeated Portugal champion Benfica, 98-78, on Tuesday.
Dee Bost was dealing with shoulder pain during the second half, but Ismet Akpinar produced a season-high 22 points, including seven points in the third quarter pushing to a double-digit distance for Galatasaray. The 28-year-old point guard connected 7/9 from the field, including 4/6 from beyond the arc. Bost packed ten points with 4/5 field goals, six rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
The reigning Champions League Best Young Player Sadik Emir Kabaca shaped another individual-high scoring performance with 20 points. He added seven rebounds and four assists in Gameday 3 of the Regular Season. Injured guard Corey Walden was sidelined.
Coming off six losses over the last seven games across all competitions, including three in a row, there was little margin for error. Also facing the prospect of the first five-game losing streak in the BCL shaped further desperation. Getting the job done, the team guided by Zvezdan Mitrovic went up to 1-2 in Group G.
An impressive spinning throwdown in the second quarter highlighted Ivan Almeida’s 16 points in Sinar Erdem Dome. Banking in ten of his 12 points in the second half, veteran Toney Douglas was not enough to keep his side close. The Eagles were forced down to 1-2 at the midway point of the double-legged round-robin schedule.
Postgame press conference
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League