By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Nizhny Novgorod advanced to the Basketball Champions League quarterfinals despite losing 84 – 66 to Reyer Venezia in Game 2 of the Round of 16.
The Russian team won the series with a 161 – 156 aggregate score thanks to the 23-point win (95 – 72) they had achieved in Game 1. An advantage that kept them safe in Venice despite their Italian side’s superiority in the match and the efforts mainly of Stefano Tonut (26 points, four rebounds) and Mitchell Watt (15 points, 11 rebounds).
Venezia led 21 – 12 at the beginning of the second quarter but Nizhny answered with a 1 – 8 partial score and continued to hold on to not allow its opponents a bigger lead. The hosts made a final push in the final period yet didn’t manage to lead by more than 18.
Tadija Dragicevic helped Nizhny endure with 21 points (11/12 from the line) and eight rebounds. Evgenii Baburin added 11 points.
Nizhny will face either UCAM Murcia or Antwerp Giants for a spot in the Final Four. The latter won Game 1 on the road 67 – 75.
Photo: FIBA