By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Leading from start to finish, Olympiacos took down Aris, 87-76, Monday.
Sasha Vezenkov registered a team-high 18 points lasting nearly 22 minutes in the one-sided contest. He connected 6/10 field goals, including a couple of triples facing his former team in the rescheduled Stoiximan Basket League Regular Season Round 11. Eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and one steal additionally stuffed his stat sheet.
Shaquielle McKissic contributed 17 points by making seven out of his 13 attempts over 23 minutes. Kostas Sloukas ended up with ten points, seven assists, five rebounds, and one steal in 26 minutes. Stephen F. Austin product Thomas Walkup had nine points, four assists, three rebounds, and one steal in 19 minutes. Quincy Acy remained sidelined.
The Reds jumping to 12-1 regained the slim lead over rival Panathinaikos OPAP following second carrying an 11-1 record in the Greek League. The hosts located in Thessaloniki were forced down to 5-8 trailing in double-digits for most of the 40 minutes despite Canadian Olivier Hanlan banking in 35 points behind 11/21 field goals. Xeyrius Williams threw in 14 more points in the losing effort.
Up next for the team guided by Giorgos Bartzokas, a home game versus defending Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion Anadolu Efes in a Regular Season Round 26 affair set to be held Thursday. At 13-9, including 9-1 at the Peace and Friendship Stadium, SEF, the Greek side sits sixth in the standings, while the Turkish side at 12-11 currently holds eighth place, the lowest seed leading to the 2022 Playoffs.