By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Peristeri bwin had lost their first three games in the Basketball Champions League Round of 16, marking their joint-longest ever losing streak in the competition. However, they managed to bounce back with a victory at home and keep slim chances of advancing.
Vassilis Spanoulis’ squad triumphed over Pinar Karsiyaka at the Andreas Papandreou Hall with a score of 76-73, thereby tying with the Turkish side at 1-3, but remaining behind in head-to-head matches.
Joe Ragland led the way for the winning side with 19 points, nine assists, and five rebounds for a PIR of 28, while Kenny Williams was the top scorer for Peristeri with 23 points. Mitrou Long added 14 points, while Leonidas Kaselakis finished the match with eight but scored some important shots in the final quarter.
As for Pinar Karsiyaka, Vitto Brown had 19 points, while Vernon Carey was on the verge of a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds for a team-high PIR of 21. Jaylon Brown finished the game with a total of 15 points.
The Greek side had a 73-66 lead with 49 seconds on the clock, but Pinar Karsiyaka refused to give up. Jaylon Brown scored seven straight points to trim the deficit to 74-73. Elijah Mitrou Long then made two free throws, and Saricа’s team had five seconds to go to overtime. Kalen Martin, who had previously missed all eight of his shots, took responsibility and missed the entire rim, losing the chance to tie the score, and Peristeri emerged victorious.
Both teams are still in trouble when it comes to advancing to the next round, but Peristeri at least stayed alive because, with the loss, they would be out of contention.
Postgame press conference
Photo:fiba.basketball