By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Fenerbahce was a bit under the effects of a “hangover” from its qualification to the EuroLeague Final Four at the beginning of the Turkish League game vs. straggler Usak Sportif but ultimately prevailed 90 – 81 on the road.
Zeljko Obradovic’s players found themselves trailing even by 13, 25 – 12 in the first quarter and needed quite the reaction to balance the game 41 – 39 at the half. Usak remained persistent but its opponents gained the lead near the end of the third period, went up 57 – 63 with ten minutes left, and never looked back.
Jason Thompson posted a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds in 24:30 for Fener that was without Jan Vesely, Nikola Kalinic and Kostas Sloukas. Ahmet Duverioglu and James Nunnally also scored 13 apiece.
Veteran Earl Calloway had an all-around output of 20 points, 10 assists plus five rebounds for Usak Sportif that was mathematically relegated to the Second Division with this loss.