By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Finally ending an eight-game losing streak in the Basketball Champions League, EWE Baskets Oldenburg avoided an early exit and instead jumped into the finishing sprint with an advantage over Filou Oostende.
Despite missing several key players, head coach Pedro Calles guided his side to the win, 81-64, on Tuesday.
An explosive performance by DeWayne Russell with 17 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals lasting just under 36 minutes in the Gameday 4 affair. Debuting in the BCL, recent addition Geno Crandall produced a team-high 18 points with 5/9 field goals, including 3/4 from beyond the arc. Fueled by the support of the EWE Arena crowd, the hosts finished with 12/25 three-pointers.
Recent setbacks sidelined Max Di Leo, Charles Manning Jr., and Deane Williams along with long-time injury list tenants Brekkott Chapman and Alen Pjanic. Kyle Foster was out as well.
Coming in with four consecutive losses across all competitions, including sinking to 5-4 in Germany’s easyCredit BBL, Oldenburg bounced back in style and matched BCO at 1-3. The additional prize was countering the recent five-point loss and winning the head-to-head, thus a favorable potential tiebreaker in Group E of the Regular Season.
The Belgium champions dropped all three away games of the double-legged round-robin schedule. Pierre-Antoine Gillet registering eight of his game-high 19 points in the fourth quarter failed to keep the team coached by Dario Gjergja competitive in Oldenburg. Matthias Tass and Haris Bratanovic were sidelined.
Postgame press conference
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League